Down To Business

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Across the world, governments are exploring ways to boost food reserves as political instability and climate concerns bring food resource management into sharp focus. Emmet Oliver is joined by Susannah Savage, Commodities Correspondent for the Financial Times, who has been writing about this and how it may affect the market.

Joining Emmet Oliver to go through the main stories from the business pages of the Saturday papers is Ciara McDonagh of Healy Communications and Ronan Reid of Cantor Fitzgerald.

Creativity is something we all understand, but does it differ across cultures and societies worldwide? Frederick Heren, author of The World of Creativity, A Journey Across 37 Countries to Discover the Secrets of Creative Minds, joins Emmet Oliver to discuss.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Daniel Rubin, founder of Dune London and author of ‘Sole Survivor: How I Built a Global Shoe Brand'.

In C.O.U.R.A.G.E., Christopher O. H. Williams reveals how to harness innate courage in everyday life to make a lasting impact and live authentically, without regret. He joins Bobby to discuss.

Kopper Kreations is an industrial homewares brand that uses reclaimed and recycled materials to create unique and eye-catching homewares. Bobby stopped by their site just off Capel Street in Dublin, where founder Emmet Bosonnet told him all about the business.

Joining Bobby to chat about his new book 'How To Think About AI: A Guide for the Perplexed’ is Richard E. Susskind.

For this week’s Industry Review, Bobby looks ahead to the year in travel. Joining him are three industry leaders: Claire Doherty, Product and Operations Director at Travel DepartmentPeter Cullen, Chief Operating Officer of Click&GoMartin Skelly, Director of Navan Travel

As a family doctor, Dr Mark Rowe has seen first-hand the impact of investing in your future self with simple, small changes to your daily routine that leverage the science of habits for lasting results. He joins Bobby to chat about his book, ‘Things Your Future Self Will Thank You For’.

This week on the Executive Chair Bobby sits down with Justin van der Spuy & Ray Armstrong, Co-CEOs of Saros Consulting

More than 40 years ago a man called Robin Knox-Johnson became the first to sail singled handed and solo around the world. Back in 1969 Sir Robin earned the ‘golden globe’ award for completed the journey as one of the last great uncharted maritime feats 2026 is set to be a busy year with Sir Robin’s Clipper entering 2 boats in the Round Ireland Race. He also due to speak at a special event in Dublin raising money for UNICEF in FebruaryRobin spoke to Bobby about is life and the year ahead

Staying motivated when life gets tough isn’t easy, but it’s often those moments of adversity that define us. For this week’s Industry Review with a twist, Bobby explored the mindsets and strategies that help us keep going when the going gets tough. He was joined by Motivational Speaker Mark Fennel, Motivational Speaker & Endurance Athlete Enda Doherty and Psychotherapist & Founder of The STLL Daniella Moyles

Bobby is joined by economists Colm McCarthy and Barra Ronantree to examine the economic prospects for 2026

Bobby sits down with founder and managing director of Poachers drinks from Wexford They chat through the business and some of their most popular products

Bobby is joined by Olytico's Stephen O'Leary and Artist and Digitization Consultant Joan Mulvihill to discuss the biggest business stories of the day

Joining Bobby to run through the main stories of the year are Susan HayesCulleton, presenter of 'Taking Stock', Conor Faughnan, Transport Commentator and Host of the Driving Life Podcast; and Bob Hoffman of Vista Executive Search.

Bobby is joined by Cormac Lucey, Economics Commentator with The Sunday Times, to discuss the idea that the Irish economy is simultaneously in the best of times and the worst of times.

Motivational speaker, David Meade, joins Bobby to chat about how he got into keynote speaking, helping people to analyse the challenges around them critically, and running what he calls 'lightbulb teams'.

Mike Hanrahan, Singer-songwriter and guitarist with Stockton's Wing, joins Bobby to play 'Wishing You Were Here'.

Bobby takes a walk down Dublin's Grafton Street, where he talks to retailers like The Camera Centre, Dubray Book, flower vendors, Weir's, The Irish Design Shop, and Patrick Sheary Menswear.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is Tom O'Brien, Group CEO of Nephin Energy.