Down To Business

We all know we need to buy and use sustainable products, but our wallets also guide us. Bobby speaks to the co-author of a new book that says sustainability programmes often fail because of this. Goutam Challagalla, co-author of ‘Clean Winners: Sustainability Strategy That Puts Customers First’, joins Bobby to discuss.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Richard Tierney, CEO of the St Patrick’s Festival.

Glamping and outdoor experiences have become big business in recent years, as more people look for ways to disconnect from busy lives and reconnect with nature. From luxury tents and unique outdoor accommodation to premium outdoor gear and equipment, the “great outdoors” economy continues to grow. To discuss, Bobby is joined by: ● Wendy Riordan, Owner of Pitched Perfect ● John Brennan, Managing Director of Dromquinna Manor ● Ken Costigan, Co-Owner / Co-Director of Great Outdoors & Columbia Store Dublin

It’s Super Saturday in the 2026 Guinness Six Nations, and the championship race is down to the wire. Ireland’s campaign has swung from challenge to opportunity, with a win against the Scots needed to give us a glimmer of hope to clinch the title. Joining Bobby to break it all down is former international front‑row legend Shane Byrne.

For this week’s Industry Review, we’re stepping into the world of craftsmanship and the precise, hands-on art of shoemaking and repair. Bobby is joined by two skilled shoemakers and one experienced cobbler to talk about what it really takes to build and rebuild quality footwear in Ireland. ● Michael Walsh, Marketing Director with Dubarry of Ireland● Michael Tutty of Tuttys Shoemakers, Naas, Co. Kildare ● Isaac Jackman, of ‘Isaac Jackman Shoe Repairs’

Helan Wada, author of ‘Human Wise: How to lead from within and sell with confidence’, knows today’s managers are under multiple types of pressure from shareholders, market sentiment, and their own expectations of what being a manager is. Her solution is simple - remember you are a human with feelings. She joins Bobby to chat about it all.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Alan Coleman, Chief Product Officer of Plume Design.

Bobby took a trip to the foothills of the Sugarloaf in Co. Wicklow to check out one of the country’s best garden centres, Outdoorliving.

Financial markets are still reeling as the US & Israel’s war on Iran continues, sending oil prices higher and stock markets tumbling, and Irish shares caught in the crossfire. To unpack what this could mean for inflation, interest rates, and the wider economy, Bobby is joined by Business Editor at the Irish Independent, Donal O’Donovan & economist Jim Power.

Joining Bobby to go through the main business stories from the Saturday papers are Susan HayesCulleton, presenter of Taking Stock here at Newstalk, and Ronan Reid of Cantor.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week are Tom O’Connor & Leo Crawford of the Petal Group.

Bobby took a trip to Silver Works on Drury Street in Dublin city centre to get to grips with the ins and outs of jewellery making.

It's been eight days since the US Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s tariff regime in its entirety, but how has the market reacted? Bobby is joined by Paul Sommerville of CEO Sommerville Advisory Markets to try to make sense of the past week.

Joining Bobby ot go through the main business stories from the Saturday papers is Linda Daly, Business Reporter with the Sunday Times & Robert Whelan of Rockwell Finance.

For this week’s Industry Review, we’re focusing on one of Ireland’s most important sporting and economic sectors - horse racing - and asking how the industry is faring at a pivotal time. Joining Bobby to discuss is:Michael Moloney, CEO at Galway RacecourseSuzanne Eade, CEO at Horse Racing IrelandRoss O'Sullivan, Racehorse Trainer from Greenhills, Co. Kildare

Kingsley Aikins, CEO of the Networking Institute and author of Networking Matters: The Power of Human Connection, joins Bobby to chat about the transformative power of networking, the ‘glue’ that makes everything happen.

For this week’s Industry Review, Bobby delves into the world of sound engineering and sound production. As Ireland continues to be at the forefront of some of the biggest creative industries around the world, Bobby speaks to three people in different areas about how it has evolved and the challenges for the future.CEO of Windmill Lane Recording Studios, Naomi MooreFounder and CEO of Gorilla Post Production, Barry ReidSound Engineer and Designer at Blast Audio, Will Farrell

Conor Lynch is a digital innovator, educator and entrepreneur, and he has just launched his new book ‘Learn Earn Own: Learn More. Earn More. Own More’. He joins Bobby in studio to discuss.

Bobby was out & about in Simmonscourt at the 2026 Hardware Show, where he spoke to a few people spearheading innovation and shaping the future of hardware and tools.

Bobby is joined by veteran broadcaster & journalist Matt Cooper to chat about his book ‘Dynasty: Scandals, Triumph, Turmoil and Succession at the Heart of Dunnes Stores’.

Joining Bobby to go through the main stories from the Saturday papers is Caroline Reidy, Head of HR Solutions with NFP & Ciaran Hancock, Business Editor with the Irish Times.Bobby also spoke with Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs and Columnist with The Currency, Dan O’Brien, about the US Supreme Court striking down President Trump’s sweeping emergency tariffs.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Ursula Kelly, Managing Director at Cormac Tagging.

For this week’s Industry Review, we’re talking about the business and future of graphic design - exploring how brands are built, how creative decisions get made, and what separates good design from design that actually works.Bobby is joined by three leading figures from across the industry:Brian Nolan, Founding Partner of Detail. Sinead Lawlor, aka Designer G, is a Freelance Graphic DesignerKeith McGuinness, Creative Director at Red&Grey

Bobby is joined by Stephen O’Leary, founder of Olytico & Louisa Meehan of Woodview HRM to go through the big business stories from the Saturday papers.

The Giant is a cutting-edge visitor attraction concept consisting of three shapeshifting 15-60 meter tall LED-clad statues with moveable arms and heads. It is spearheaded by Irishman Paddy Dunning, who chats to Bobby about it all.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chaor this week is John O'Neill, CEO & Co-founder of SeatFair.

Magnum Ice Cream reported its first full-year results since its December demerger from Unilever, but posted a disappointing 3% drop in sales volumes in the fourth quarter but is it down to the widespread use of GLP-1 drugs? AJ Bell's Investment Director, Russ Mould joins Bobby to discuss.

Bobby is joined by Anne-Maartje Oud, author of 'What To Do If...?: How to Handle Any Situation at Work and Come Out Winning'.

Bobby was out & about this week at the Hospitality Expo 2026 where he got a sense of the hospitality sector & chatted to the likes of TV Chef and Tallaght native, Anna Haugh.

For this week’s Industry Review, we turn to the business of wellness, speaking to three operators about building and running spa and wellbeing spaces, the pressures behind the scenes, and how the sector is evolving in a competitive service market. Joining Bobby to discuss is: ● Adrienne Stewart, Founder of hotelandsparesorts.com / Director at Powerscourt Springs Health Farm & Owner at Rainforest Spa in Summerhill House Hotel, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow ● Tara de Courcey, Director of Spa & Wellness at Cashel Palace Hotel ● Eileen Fleming, Co-owner of The Buff Day Spa

The founder of CityJet, Pat Byrne, joins Bobby in this week's Executive Chair.

Bobby took a trip out to Dixon Hempenstal on Suffolk St, where he spoke to owner, Mike Wyley, about the business of eye care, how the industry has changed, and to get an eye exam.

To go through the main stories from the Saturday papers, Bobby is joined by Susan HayesCulleton aka The Positive Economist and presenter of Taking Stock, as well as Doug Keatinge from Avolon.

The Michelin Awards are set to be hosted in Dublin for the first time this coming Monday. There’s much talk about who might be added to the list or if Ireland will finally get its third star, but what is the significance of getting a star, and how are they awarded? One man who knows a thing or two about it is Ross Lewis of Chapter One, who received his own coveted star many years ago.

Have you ever sat on an interview board and the candidate facing you is just too good to be true? In the age of AI and online interviewing, the reality is that more candidates are using AI tools to impress or even fool interviewers into giving them the job. Bobby is joined by Sinead English, Founder and CEO of HILT, to look at both sides of the recruiting equation and to explore how common this scenario is becoming.

Ireland’s economy shrank in the last three months of 2025, in a time when we hear about bursting government coffers, but how can this be? Joining Bobby to talk through the details is economist, Austin Hughes.

John Corley, CEO and co-founder of Spanish Point Technologies, joins Bobby in the Executive Chair.

Bobby is joined by Paul Sloane to talk about his book 'The Art of Unexpected Solutions: Using Lateral Thinking to Find Breakthroughs', a guide to fostering innovation by embracing unconventional and indirect thinking methods.

For this week’s Industry Review, we turn to Ireland’s booming distillery sector, finding out how Irish whiskey has been growing at home and abroad, and what that means for producers on the ground and the wider industry.Joining Bobby to discuss is:Eoin Ó Catháin, Director of the Irish Whiskey AssociationPádraic Ó Griallais, Co-Founder at Micil Distillery in GalwayPat Rigney, founder & owner of The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney in Drumshanbo

How do you tip and who do you tip to are two of the hardest questions to answer on a night out. This week, the consumer watchdog tried to make things clearer as the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) issued a report which said technology has changed the tipping landscape. It also issued guidelines to ensure that people more clearly understand where their money is going and why. Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Editor from The Irish Times, joins Bobby to discuss.

Joining Bobby to go through the Sunday papers is Gina London, Leadership communication expert and Bob Hoffman of Vista Executive Search.

Joining Emmet Oliver in the Executive Chair is Jenny Johnston, CEO at Azure Communications.

How threatened by AI do you feel? Will it take away large chunks of your employment skills? Andrew Bryant, author of 'Potential-Ize: How Leaders Unlock Human Potential in the Age of AI' thinks we may be overthinking things, and that humanity can never be matched by AI. He joins Emmet Oliver to discuss.

For this week’s Industry Review, we looked at businesses that operate partly or entirely through the Irish language and asked what that choice means in practical terms for growth, customers, and competitiveness in the modern economy. Joining Anton to discuss is: ● Deirdre Ní Thuathail, Managing Director with Cló Iar-Chonnacht ● Darren Ó Rodaigh, CEO & Founder of Coláiste Gaelchultúr ● Deirdre Ní Choistín, Director General at TG4

Joining Emmet Oliver to go through the main business stories from the Saturday papers is Linda Daly, business reporter with the Sunday Times and Robert Whelan of Rockwell Finance.

Liam Collins, journalist for Mediahuis Ireland covering the Irish Independent and Sunday Independent, joins Emmet Oliver to chat about the publication of his late father's book 'Kings, Druids, and Traitors'.

Following one of the strangest weeks in geopolitics, where the eyes of the world were on Davos, Emmet Oliver wanted to look at where Ireland now stands in the world when it comes to American relations. Cliff Taylor, Managing Editor of the Irish Times, has been watching events all week - he joins Emmet to discuss.

Down to Business has a long association with the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and that will continue this year. This year’s awards programme has just been launched, and joining Emmet Oliver to discuss is Roger Wallace, Head of Assurance and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Ireland.

Joining Emmet Oliver in the Executive Chair is Sheila O’Donnell and John Tuomey of O’Donnell + Tuomey Architects.

For this week’s Industry Review, we’re looking at the business behind sports journalism. It’s an industry driven by deadlines, digital subscriptions and intense competition - but what’s it really like to build a career covering sport in Ireland today? Joining Emmet Oliver to discuss is: Roy Curtis, Sportswriter & Columnist for The Irish Daily Star and The Irish Mirror David Kelly, Chief Sports Analysis Writer with the Irish Independent Alanna Cunane, Sportswriter with the Irish Independent