Down To Business

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Richard Kennedy, CEO of Carbon AMS.With thanks to Eversheds Sutherland – Ireland’s largest and most established global law firm.

No Crows are a dynamic world music orchestra from Sligo's diverse music scene, formed in 2005 via a casual session in Sligo’s famous ‘Shoot the Crows’. Eddie Lee & Steve Wickham joined Bobby to chat and to play us out of what was a fantastic first edition to the new roadshow series ‘Open for Business’.

Bobby is joined by TD Dara Calleary, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation to discuss the Family and Care referendums, the general health of business in Enniscone, and more.

On the face of it, a seaweed bath is nothing more than a tub filled with hot seawater and seaweed, but to leave its description at that would be to do it a grave disservice as thousands of people consider it to be the ultimate bathing experience. Bobby went out & about to Kilcullen’s Seaweed Baths to find out for himself.

Easkey Britton began surfing at the age of four up in Rossnowlagh in Donegal, now holds a PhD and is passionate about women’s rights. Her new book ‘Ebb & Flow: Connect with the Patterns and Power of Water’ discusses how water has the power to heal, inspire, and offer meaning to us. She joins Bobby to discuss.

Bobby chats to some people living and working in the Enniscrone area to get a sense of how they and their businesses are faring.They are:Beatrice Timlin, Facility Convenor of Enniscrone Golf ClubJohn Shiel, Chair of Enniscrone Golf ClubMaeve McCormack, co-ordinator of Sligo Women in Business Network Niall McAllister, co-founder of Quick Crop Louise McDonnell, founder of SellOnSocial.Media Agency & host of the ‘Social Media Take Away’ podcast

David McGowan burst into our national consciousness with his plans to turn a jumbo jet into a glamping attraction back in 2016. Since then, we have seen him talking about his ‘day job’ in an RTÉ documentary on his funeral business - he joins Bobby for a catch-up.

Broadcasting out of Enniscrone Golf Club as a part of our new roadshow series ‘Open for Business’, Bobby is joined by Dr. Edel McSharry, Head of the School of Nursing, Health Sciences and Disability Studies at ATU St Angelas & Paul Deering, executive editor of the Sligo Champion to look at the business stories that are making the morning papers.

One of the aspects of the ‘Open for Business’ roadshow is that Bobby will be looking at the life and relative well-being of a town by examining the way the town functions from a business, planning, and retail perspective. Planning expert, Conor Skehan & Retail Consultant Eddie Shanahan join Bobby to take a look at what’s working for the town and what, if anything, can be improved.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Jeffrey Long, MD of Java Republic.

The Down to Business crew will be in Enniscrone in Sligo next Saturday, March 9th for their new roadshow ‘Open for Business’. As part of each of these shows a dedicated 'Town Health Check' team will accompany Bobby to assess what’s working and what isn’t. Conor Skehan, planning expert & retail consultant, Eddie Shanahan join Bobby to discuss.

With rising costs, supply chain delays, a spiders-web of red tape, and the ever-growing push to move to green energy, the haulage and freight industry has a lot to deal with at the moment.So for this week’s Industry Review, Bobby wanted to gauge just how the sector is juggling all of this.Joining Bobby is:James Quinn of James Quinn TransportEugene Drennon, former president of The Irish Road Haulage AssociationPaul Toner, Managing Director of Toner Transport & Logistics Aidan Flynn, CEO of the Freight Transport Association of Ireland

'Real to Reel: Garech Browne & Claddagh Records' by James Morrissey is a new large-format hardback book together with a vinyl box set that celebrates the life of Guinness heir Garech Browne and his quest to preserve Ireland’s musical and spoken-word heritage with Claddagh Records. James joins Bobby to discuss.

'The Smooth Company' was founded by Aine Kennedy after she spent eight years working in the beauty industry. Bobby took a trip out to Grafton Street to chat with her and her grandfather, Billy Kennedy about the success of the 'Smooth Stick', a specially formulated premium hair styling finishing wand designed to help keep all baby and broken hairs in place all day long.

Bobby is joined by Caroline Reidy of the HR Suite & Lorcan Allen, Business Editor for the Business Post to look at the business stories that are making the morning papers.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Peter Lantry, the Managing Director of Equinix - Ireland’s largest supplier of data centres.

With rapidly advancing technology - the conversation rarely lands on industries that largely rely on working with your hands? Bobby talks to Kyran O’Grady of Wicklow Thatching Services, Isaac Jackman, Owner of ‘Isaac Jackman Shoe Repairs’ and Colm Bagnall, co-owner of Bushy Park Ironworks to discuss how they’re faring.

Bobby goes to the Hospitality Expo in the RDS and talks to Neven Maguire as well as other hospitality people about the state of the sector today.

Bobby talks to economist Dan O’Brien about how Irish people are some of the most indebted in the world.

How worried should we be about AI in relation to the job market? Bobby is joined by author of ‘AI Unleashed’ Mark Kelly and Commercial Director at Sigmar Recruitment Rossa Mullaly to discuss the role AI might play in the future.

Bobby is joined by Susan Hayes Culleton of Hayes Culleton and Former Director General of the Law Society Ken Murphy to look at the business stories that are making the morning papers.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Brian Donaldson, Chief Executive Officer of The Maxol Group.

Bridging the gap between the expectations of fresh-faced graduate employees and prospective employers can be a challenge, and failing to do so can lead to strife for all involved.So, how can we better prepare for, and indeed succeed in, our first job? Colman Collins, author of ‘How To Succeed In Your First Job’ joins Bobby to discuss.

It is one of the most special days of your life and whether it’s a big one or a small one, a traditional one or one that you’ve imagined just for yourself - you want your wedding day to be just the way you imagined it.But how do you go about achieving that? To discuss, Bobby is joined by:• Ruth Scott, Wedding Solemniser & Celebrant • Photographer Paul Kelly of PK Studio3•Daragh Doyle, The Ireland Wedding Planner

Bobby is joined by Rory Gillen of Gillen Markets & Gary Carvill from the Digital Wealth Group to debate the pros and cons of cryptocurrencies.

Bobby was out and about at OffBeat Donuts in Dundrum Town Centre to hear all about the runaway success of one of the country's purveyors of premium donuts.

It was reported earlier this month that Irish Vodka brand Istil 38 - which launched back in 2022 - has attracted an investment worth around €390,000 as it looks to build upon the success they have seen in the last two years.Shane Davey, Managing Director of the Sugarloaf Beverage Company joins Bobby to discuss.

Joining Bobby to go through the main business stories from the Saturday papers are Linda Daly Business Reporter with the Sunday Times & Stephen O’Leary the founder of Olytico.

In recent months we saw news that there is a serious shortage of qualified vets facing the Irish veterinary industry, with some practices advertising for more than a year to fill positions.Couple this with rising costs and ever-increasing demands on our vets for small and large animals, where exactly is the sector right now?Joining Bobby to discuss is:Charles Cosgrave, Co-Owner of Village Vets Kathy Enright, co-owner of Rockhall Veterinary LtdConor Geraghty, former president of Veterinary Ireland and owner of the FarmGate Veterinary Group

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Ciaran McCormack of Select Technology Group.

Bobby speaks to Alison Taylor, author of 'Higher Ground: How Business Can Do the Right Thing in a Turbulent World'.

The Laya Healthcare Workplace Wellbeing Index 2024 is the result of one of Ireland's most extensive workplace wellbeing studies and offers invaluable insights into the evolving HR landscape, allowing employers and employees to stay up to date on the latest trends.Bobby chats to Sinead Proos, Head of Health & Wellbeing at Laya Healthcare to explore some of the key trends regarding people's wellbeing in the workplace and discuss how to sustain high performance in a hybrid working environment.The Laya Healthcare Workplace Wellbeing Index is available at layahealthcare.ie/wellbeingindex.

With Valentine’s Day coming up Bobby takes a look at the actual rules around romance in the workplace with Damien McCarthy, Managing Director of HR Buddy.

Joining Bobby to run through the top stories from the business pages this morning are Louisa Meehan of Woodview HRM & Bob Hoffman of Vista Executive Search.

Castlebar has been found to have the best work-life balance according to a new index. One man who has been singing the praises of this area for a long time has been local TD Michael Ring who joins Bobby to discuss this and everything that Mayo has to offer.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Joe Gilmore, Managing Director of Ireland West Airport, Knock

Broadcasting out of the Connected Hub in the Atlantic Technological University iHub in Castlebar, Bobby speaks to some of those people using iHub to find out about the benefits this kind of working environment offers to people.Joining Bobby is:Louise McDonnell, founder of SellOnSocial.Media AgencyBrian Barrett of Solar WestDr. Noreen CurtisStephen Carolan, National Hubs Network Programme Manager at the Western Development Commission

This week Bobby was broadcasting out of the Connected Hub in the Atlantic Technological University Ihub in Castlebar with thanks to Mayo County Council. One of those people who use the connected hubs in Mayo is Sarah Butler, cookbook author, and recipe writer who joins Bobby to chat about her pathway into the culinary world.

Bobby was out & about at the Connacht Distillery in Ballina this week to discuss the vision behind the business which seeks to marry modern techniques to an old tradition of craft distilling.

Last year Mayo was very much on the map when US President, Joe Biden went west and spent a remarkable evening in Ballina. One of the people instrumental in organising that visit was the then-mayor of Ballina Councillor Mark Duffy - he joins Bobby to discuss.

Joining Bobby to take a look at the business stories that are making the morning papers are two Castlebar locals in the form of Teresa O’Malley, Head of News at Midwest Radio & Tom Kelly, Editor of the Connaught Telegraph.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Christophe Mathieu, CEO of Brittany Ferries.

Bobby is joined by Debra & Ken Corey, to talk about their book 'Bad Bosses Ruin Lives: The Building Blocks for Being a Great Boss'.

With the privilege of owning your own home comes the added dilemma of sticking or twisting with the current structure and layout - but where do you begin, who do you call, and what are the costs involved for home renovation projects? For this week’s industry Review Bobby sought to find out as he was joined by:● Ruth Kennelly of RK Designs ● Diarmuid Kelly of DKAD Architects ● David Dunne of Timbermill Construction in Kildare

From Next Thursday 1st Feb, when you buy a drink in a plastic bottle, aluminium, or steel can that features the 'Re-Turn' logo, you will pay a small deposit in addition to the price of the drink. When you return your empty, undamaged drinks container to any participating retail outlet, you get your deposit back in full. So how is all this going to work on a national level and will people buy into it? Bobby is joined by Ciaran Foley who is the Chief Executive of ‘Re-Turn’ to discuss.

As the country continues down the path towards net zero, more and more electric charging points will be central to achieving that goal. Bobby is joined by John O’Keeffe, CEO of ePower to discuss the path forward to achieving a carbon-neutral future.

Joining Bobby to run through the main stories from the business pages in this morning's papers is journalist and author, Valerie Cox & Ciaran Hancock, Business Editor of the Irish Times.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Gary Lavin, founder & chairman of VITHIT.

Marga Hoek, author of ‘Tech For Good: Imagine Solving the World’s Greatest Challenges’ joins Bobby to chat about her book and the possibilities advanced technologies offer businesses to drive sustainable growth.

2023 was by all accounts a solid year for the motor and car dealership trade here in Ireland but how is 2024 shaping up and will we see many more EVs on our roads?Joining Bobby to discuss is:Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General (Society of the Irish Motor Industry) Rowena Dooley, Dealer Principle at Dooley Motors Carlow Philip Mallon, Managing Director of Joe Mallon Motor Group