Down To Business

How legal are drones and should you need a license to own or use one? Joining Bobby to talk more about this is Simon Henry, Business Development Manager at ZenaDrone.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Aaron Mansworth, MD of Trigon Hotels.

Christmas will come early for one local business this year, as 'Champion Green' - Ireland’s support local initiative - is giving small businesses the chance to win a €50,000 retail opportunity, in partnership with Aviva Life & Pensions. ‘Readymade Retail’ was launched by 'Champion Green', in the Blackrock Village Centre in Dublin and the competition will see a small business with big ambition win a pop-up retail store in the prestigious south Dublin shopping centre, worth over €50,000 for a period of six months. Duncan Graham, Managing Director of Retail Ireland joins Bobby to discuss. Find out more at www.championgreen.ie

Joining Bobby to talk about how your business can improve and reach its goals through everyday actions is leadership mentor & CEO of Black Isle Group, Jeremy Campbell.

There is plenty of talk of a global downturn of late following the pandemic and the war in Ukraine but writing in last Sunday’s Independent, Conor Skehan thinks Ireland has the ability to possibly protect itself from its worst effects. He joined Bobby to discuss.

Music is a universal language that bridges cultural, political, and religious divides and can bring about the very best in us. So, for this week’s industry review, Bobby sought to find out more about the business of teaching music from those in the know. Joining Bobby is: - Craig Wynne, Owner of the Dublin School of Music - Killian Ivory, School Manager from Everest School of Music in Bray - Jen Tully of JTVox

‘Quiet Quitting’ is the concept of no longer going above and beyond, and instead doing what their job description requires of them and only that. Damien McCarthy, CEO of HR Buddy, has had his own experience of ‘quiet quitting’ and he says that it’s not just the employees that are doing it. He joins Bobby to discuss.

Bobby took a trip out to Bar 1661 - Winner of the Bar of the Year Awards 2022. There he chatted to the owner, Dave Mulligan, about what makes his establishment so unique and tried some of their wares.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Justin Lawless, CEO of Intact Software.

Down to Business has long been a supporter of Focus Ireland’s 'Shine a Light Night' which sees businesses and companies all over Ireland sleep out in solidarity with Ireland’s homeless population. One person who knows a lot about the work of Focus Ireland is Kelly Ann who is a 'Lived Experience Ambassador' for Focus Ireland - she joined Bobby to discuss her experience. Focus Ireland's 'Shine a Light Night', supported by Bord Gáis Energy, will take place on Friday 14 October 2022. https://www.focusireland.ie/shinealight/

It has never been a better time for food lovers in Ireland. Not only are there countless bricks-and-mortar restaurants serving up some of the finest food in the world, but there has also been an explosion in the popularity of Food Trucks that now dot our street corners. To find out what it’s like running one of these businesses Bobby is joined by: Scott Holder of Los Chicanos Jacob Long of Griolladh Julia Hemingway of Julia’s Lobster Truck

Bobby was Out & About at Mondello Park at the Carole Nash Historic Festival, which was back for 2022. There he took in the sights and sounds of the vintage and classic motorbikes & cars on display. He also chatted to Ian Beatty, Operations & Sporting Director of Mondello Park as well as BMW Ireland's Managing Director, Kevin Davidson.

Next weekend Bobby will be putting his culinary skills to the test by cooking lobster at the 2022 Dalkey Lobster Festival with Lorraine Keane on hand to judge Bobby's technique and presentation skills. Bobby was joined by Lorraine and Romain Tessier, aka 'The Arty Baker', who will also display his skills at the festival to discuss.

Writing in today's Irish Independent, Charlie Weston said that many people now fear a new property bubble has built up and will burst. Charlie joined Bobby to discuss.

Bobby went out there on the stunning Loop Head Peninsula visiting a novel business that epitomizes the spirit of endeavour and following your dreams. From Milan to Clare with a South American twist, Bobby visited The Flying Alpacas, a small farm that offers families the chance to get up close and personal with Alpacas and much more.

Every single entrepreneur, no matter where they come from or how big they become, has been at the point in their journey where they ask themselves “Where do I start?” Matt Clifford, co-founder, and CEO of Entrepreneur First and co-author of ‘How to Be a Founder: How Entrepreneurs Can Identify, Fund and Launch their Best Ideas’ has joined Bobby on the show.

When you think of tattoos you might think of them as being a statement of your artistic side - a representation of who you are - but they also put food on the tables of many people around the country. To discuss the way attitudes around tattoos and how perceptions of the industry in general have shifted over the last few years Bobby was joined by Dolores Murray of Wildcat Ink, Kevin McNamara of Dublin Ink and Aisling Mahon of Aisling Mahon Tattoo in Co Kildare.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Geraldine Ruane, CEO of the RDS.

The upcoming budget is set to see a landmark tax package with many expecting to benefit from the implementation of measures looking to tackle the issue of rampant inflation. To discuss the plans and what we might expect from budget 2023, I'm delighted to be joined now by renowned economist, Moore McDowell.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Colin Cunningham, Managing Director of Cellnex Ireland.

Bobby took a trip out to Cool Hand Coffee Roasters, the takeaway coffee shop that enables customers to hand-roast their chosen beans in-store!

We have some of the most abundant seafood stocks in the waters around Ireland but do we cherish and promote the beautiful bounty that surrounds us to the same degree as our Spanish, French or Italian counterparts do? For this week’s Industry Review Bobby is joined by three people looking to make that happen. - John Shine of Killybegs Catch Ltd & Shines Seafood - Liam Quinlan of Quinlan Seafoods in Kerry - Denis Good of The Good Fish Company

Economist, Colm McCarthy joined Bobby to chat about the complexities involved in addressing our carbon emission output, the increased pressures on the agriculture sector, and what will need to be done if we are to reach our goals by 2030.

Bobby was joined by Michelle Auerbach, author of 'Resilience: The Life-Saving Skill of Story'. Together they discuss the book and its aim to help people in any field and any walk of life to become better storytellers, helping them to unleash the power to teach, learn, change, and empower ourselves and the people around us.

Bobby spoke to Ryan O’Neill, Managing Director of Double R Media to chat about his business, 'Retro Drive-In' back in the summer of 2021 while businesses were grappling with the unprecedented disruption of the pandemic Thankfully they’ve made it out the other end and are expanding their offering with Retro+. Bobby spoke to Ryan to find out more.

Joining Bobby is comedian, and actor, Pat Shortt. Together they discuss Pat working with his daughter, Faye; the business side of putting on shows; as well as how certain roles help with his sense of creativity.

There was one holiday option that got a lot more attention from “staycationers” last year due to the pandemic - Glamping. So for this week’s Industry Review, Bobby thought he'd check in to see how this sector is doing now that things are back open again. Joining Bobby is: · Wendy Riordan, Owner of Pitched Perfect · Dick Ridge, Owner, and founder of Pod Umna Village · John Brennan, Managing Director of Dromquinna Manor resort in Co Kerry

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is David Warrick, Vice President of Overhaul.

Bobby popped into Willie Duggan Lighting in Kilkenny to chat about all things lighting related. Together they discuss the unique challenges that commercial and residential lighting projects present, and the creative process behind lighting design in general.

There were a raft of bank results out this week with AIB still smarting from their U-turn on cashless branches. Bobby is joined by Joe Brennan, Markets Correspondent for the Irish Times to take a look at the state of the banks.

Mimi Nicklin, author of 'Softening the Edge: Empathy: How Humanity's Oldest Leadership Trait is Changing our World' joins Bobby to discuss the changing world of work, and how business leaders can adapt to make a more empathetic environment for all going forward.

Bobby spoke to Mark “Cokes” Colclough a few weeks ago when he was attempting to become the oldest person to swim the English Channel all for a very good cause. We check in with Mark to see how he got on.

Bobby is joined by legendary performers, Foster & Allen, where together they discuss managing without the ability to tour during the pandemic, getting back on the road, and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Adam and the Ants, Bob Geldoff and more!

Known to many of a certain vintage as Biddy Byrne from 'Glenroe', but to the rest of us, an actress with many, many more strings to her bow, Westmeath’s favourite daughter, Mary McEvoy, joins Bobby to chat about living the good life on her animal sanctuary & farm and becoming a certified Pilates Instructor.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Regina Bushell, Founder & MD of Grovelands Childcare.

Joining Bobby is Richie O’Hara, Founder & Director of ‘Baysports’, Miriam Mulrennan, Arts Officer with Westmeath County Council and former manager of Athlone Arts & Tourism & Katherine Kiveney- Founder of Hen.ie and Stag.ie to discuss their businesses as well as the state of the arts sector in the midlands region.

Athlone is home to some very old businesses in the country with Ireland’s oldest department store and also oldest pub. Joining Bobby is Rosie Boles of Burgess of Athlone & Declan Delaney, Manager of Seán’s Bar to talk about the businesses and the history behind them.

Bobby took a cruise up the River Shannon into the heartland of the country with Pearse Connell of Hidden Heartlands Tours where they took in the beauty of the area and chatted about the touring business in general. Bobby also stopped into the Wineport Lodge Hotel to chat to Ray Byrne where they recently celebrated 30 years in busniess.

Bobby is joined by Fianna Fáil TD for Longford/Westmeath Robert Troy who is also the Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation at the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment. Together they discuss AIB scrapping their plan to remove cash services in 70 branches and what role the Post Office might play in the years to some when it comes to managing personal finances.

Bobby is joined by Michael Hassett, owner of Cork-based 'Hassett's Bakery' who has just secured a deal worth €6m to supply Lidl with a chilled cake and dessert range, available in 175 Lidl stores across Ireland.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Joe Queenan, Managing Director of Foxford Woollen Mills.

It is one of life’s fundamental truths that if we don’t push ourselves beyond what we think we’re capable of, to take ourselves out of our comfort zone, then we will never tap into the potential we have within us. Sue Stockdale, Business Transformational and Leadership Change Coach and author of ‘Explore: A Life of Adventure’ certainly knows a thing or two about high-pressure situations and living on the edge - she joins Bobby to discuss.

Tourism is a vital component of the Irish economy. So, now that things are back in full swing, Bobby thought he’d get the perspective of three tour guides who make it their business to showcase the natural beauty and historical richness that we have to offer. Joining Bobby is Lorcan Collins, Founder of 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour Derek Smith, Founder of Custom Irish Tours Tommy Graham, Founder of Historical Walking Tours of Dublin

Every leader, no matter whether they have several thousand people working with them or just one, has two main responsibilities: to create direction and clarity and to get out of the way. So says Paula Leach, Founder and Executive Coach of Vantage Points Consulting & author of ‘Vantage Points: How to Create a Culture Where Employees Thrive'. She joins Bobby to discuss.

Bobby stopped into the Celtic Whisky Shop on Dublin's Dawson Street to see how trade is going and to chat with Katie Gibson, Marketing Manager, Store Manager, Darren Maher, and Wholesale Manager, Colm O'Connor.

Paul Howard, creator of one of the most iconic literary fictional Irish characters of the last 20 years - Ross O'Carroll-Kelly - joined Bobby to chat about the return of his smash hit musical, 'Copper Face Jacks: The Musical'.

Last week in our newspaper review Bobby highlighted the good news story of the PM Group who were expanding with a whole host of new jobs. So for this week's Executive Chair, Bobby was delighted to welcome the CEO of PM Group - David Murphy.

Almost half of adults aged 50 years and over in Ireland own a pet, and at the top of that list is dogs. But with all the love and joy they bring us comes a lot of grooming and TLC on our part as well. So, for this week's Industry Review Bobby is joined by three people who make it their business to make sure our dogs are looking their very best. Joining Bobby is - Dylan Brady of 'Barks and Bubbles' - Lisa Kearney of 'Muttugly' - Paul Abbott of 'Groming.Dog'

The biggest political story of the week, if not the year so far, has been the resignation of UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. John Downing, Irish Independent journalist, thought he saw the signs of his inevitable end when he first encountered him 30 years ago. He joined Bobby to discuss.

The Government's Summer Economic Statement published this week shows the forthcoming Budget will contain spending and tax measures equal to €6.7 billion. It has been described as a "temporary once-off increase," which breaches the Government’s own spending rule of 5% and as a result, economist, Jim Power, thinks political expediency is getting in the way of sound economic judgment. He joins Bobby to discuss.