The Last Word with Matt Cooper
On Ireland's most cutting edge current affairs show, Matt and his guests provide a running stream of intelligent opinions and heated debates on the issues that matter most to Irish listeners. You might not always agree, but you'll never want to miss a Word.
The Week Trending: Airbnb Guests Freed From Chores, Fontaines DC Condemn AI, & Is Dublin Really The 6th Best City In The World?
Stripping the beds and taking out the bins, new Airbnb rules will limit chores imposed on guests.
Fontaines DC have said they were blindsided by the use of AI in their 'Marianne' music video.
And Dublin has ranked 6th overall in the 2026 Global Cities Index produced by Oxford Economics out of 1,000 cities worldwide.
Dave Hanratty and Emma Nolan join The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Seismic Election Expected Next Week As Israelis Go To The Polls
Paul Kearns, journalist based in Tel Aviv, talks to Will O'Callaghan about the biggest challenge to Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership for years, as voting is due to take place in the country's first general election since the October 7th attacks.
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Tech Thursday: Websites Across The World Vulnerable To Hacking
Websites across the world were taken down for a period this week after it was discovered that the programming they use is vulnerable to being hacked.
Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to explain this issue and also to run through how you can better protect your own tech.
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Emma Heatherington: Together For Christmas
Bestselling author Emma Heatherington joins The Last Word to delve into her latest winter love story, Together For Christmas.
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How Are European Countries Preparing For This Weekend's Protests?
Over 2,400 arrests were made in France during last weekend's protests.
As students and trade unions prepare for another day of demonstrations this Saturday, how have neighbouring countries reacted?
Shona Murray, European Correspondent with Euronews, and Mary Fitzgerald, Irish journalist based in Marseilles, join The Last Word to to question if European authorities are prepared for what might unfold.
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The Last Word On Movies: Wildwood
Brian Lloyd has the latest movies releases including Wildwood and Klara And The Sun.
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Culture Club: Paul Savage
Singer songwriter Paul Savage, also known as Whozyerman, joins The Last Word to discuss his favourite movie, tv shows, and album.
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How 32 Irish Female Writers Came Together To Write About Their Fears
'Fear' is a new anthology of chilling short stories from 32 of Ireland's leading female writers who came together to explore some of life's greatest fears.
Authors Sam Blake and Edel Coffey both contributed to the book and they join The Last Word to discuss how it came about and what it was like to write about their own fears.
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Government Accused Of Betrayal Over Triple Lock
The Triple Lock is the mechanism by which the Government decides to send more than 12 serving defense personal overseas on peace missions. The three conditions are UN approval, a decision by Government and a Dáil vote.
Richard Boyd Barrett, TD, People Before Profit and Catherine Callaghan, Fine Gael TD and spokesperson on Defense, join Frank Greaney ahead of a contentious debate on the Triple Lock and the Government's plans to dismantle it.
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The Last Word On The US: Trump Criticises Zelensky
US President Donald Trump once again criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, this time for failing to reach a peace agreement with Russia.
Marion McKeone and Cal Thomas join The Last Word to give their two cents on the pairs every changing relationship.
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RSA To Install Breathalysers In Pubs Costing €1.5M
The Road Safety Authority has announced a €1.5M project to install breathalysers in pubs and hotels around the country.
Aidan Farrelly of the Social Democrats joined The Last Word to discuss the announcement, having earlier called it a "disgrace."
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How Ireland Built Its National Children's Hospital (At Any Cost)
Journalist Paul Cullen has followed the construction of the new National Children's hospital since the very beginning.
Years later, there is still no certainty as to when the hospital will open.
Paul joins The Last Word to discuss why this much needed facility has faced so many delays and spiralling costs, as detailed in his new book 'Billion Dollar Baby'.
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Chef Mark Moriarty On The Simple Tips To Elevate Home Cooking
Mark Moriarty joins Frank Greaney on The Last Word to celebrate the release of his new book ‘Everyday Delicious’.
Mark tells Frank about the most important utensils to keep in your kitchen and why simplicity is the key ingredient to enjoying delicious home cooked meals.
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The Last Word On Travel
Sarah Slattery of TravelExpert.ie joins The Last Word to explore alternative holiday destinations this Winter.
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Calls For Curfew As French Protests Spread
As a result of the weekends protests, over 2,500 arrests have been made while 1,500 shops were looted and destroyed.
Paris based Irish Times contributor, Lara Marlowe, joined The Last Word to give us the latest on the escalating situation.
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Rugby: Champions Cup 2025/26 Preview
Liam Toland and Paul Wallace speak to Matt on The Last Word to preview the start of the new Investec Champions Cup season.
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Major Escalation Of Legal Aid Dispute
Shane Phelan, Legal Affairs Editor with the Irish Independent, explains why there has been further action by solicitors engaged in a dispute over criminal legal aid payment reforms.
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The Week Trending: The Politeness Premium, Sally Rooney, & Ryder Cup Accommodation
New research indicates that the average Irish adult loses €150 a year due to social awkwardness.
Sally Rooney’s books will no longer be published in the UK due to her support for Palestine Action.
And rental accommodation for fans attending The Ryder Cup in Adare next year is being advertised for up to €99,000.
Aoife Barry and Cathal O’Sullivan join The Last Word to discuss the week’s trending stories.
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Funding Of Universities Set To Be Overhauled, Says Higher Education Minister
Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless joins The Last Word to discuss university funding, artificial intelligence and public sector strikes.
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Environment: Chicken Feed Being Given To Salmon On Some European Farms
Some of Europe’s biggest salmon farms have started feeding chicken byproducts to their fish, with a reduction in carbon emissions and costs used as the reason for doing so. Commentator John Gibbons speaks to Matt on The Last Word. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.
Donaldson Sentence Shows Victims "It's Never Too Late To Come Forward", Says DRCC
Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for historical sex offences against two women when they were children.
Today FM report Emily Keegan joins The Last Word to outline the sentence and what was heard in court.
Later, Rachel Morrogh, chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, talks to Matt about the significance of this sentence for other survivors of sexual abuse.
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Tech Thursday: How To Recognise A Phishing Scam
Andy O'Donoghue explains what happened when supermarket fridges were targeted in a cyber attack in France.
Andy also runs through how to protect yourself from cyber crime.
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Culture Club: Conor Horgan
Photographer Conor Horgan is the latest guest on The Culture Club.
He joins The Last Word to discuss his favourite music, movies, theatre and more.
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300,000 Public Sector Workers Strike Across The Country
Jamie O’Hara, Today FM Reporter, gauges the mood of public sector workers striking at Cork University Hospital and at a school in Mallow. Louise Burne, Political Correspondent with the Irish Examiner, outlines the latest moves by Government and the reaction of the unions.
Adrian Kane, Deputy General Secretary of SIPTU outlines what the unions are looking for in terms of negotiations with Government.
Jerry Buttimer, Minister of State for Charities, Gaeltacht and the Islands & Rural Transport, says the Government is open to negotiations.
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Why Our Obsession With Living Longer Has Gone Too Far
Seamus O’Mahony, author of 'The Longevity Delusion', joins The Last Word to discuss the vast pseudo-medical longevity industry which promises to 'cure' old age and cheat death.
After investigating the science behind this billion dollar industry, O'Mahony, a retired gastroenterologist, concludes that it doesn't live up to the hype.
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Personal Finance: Underinsuring Your Home Could Leave You Out Of Pocket
Homeowners are being warned that underinsuring their homes could leave them facing significant financial losses if they’re forced to make a claim. OUTsurance has advised people to review their cover ahead of the winter months when the weather can be more extreme and unpredictable. Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent, joins Matt on The Last Word. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.
Under Sea Cables: The Battle For Supremacy At The Bottom Of The World
Elizabeth Braw, author of The Undersea War, talks to Matt about her exploration of the network of oil, gas and data pipelines under the sea, and the potential security risks they pose.
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The Last Word On Music: Fontaines D.C. To Release New Album On Friday
Fontaines D.C. are set to release their fifth studio album 'Dopamine Chamber' this Friday, October 16th.
Dee Reddy and John Caddell speak to Matt on The Last Word about what to expect from the record and about the band's growth over the last decade.
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The Last Word On The US: Trump Sells Out Ukraine For 300 Tonnes Of Diesel
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dubbed US President Donald Trump's decision to purchase Russian diesel "a gift" to Putin. Trump has faced widespread criticism for the move which undercuts years of effort to sanction Russia for its war in Ukraine. Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss this and more of the latest news from the United States. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Public Sector Strike To Go Ahead Despite Govt's Last Ditch Appeal To Unions
Public sector workers will strike on Wednesday despite a final plea from Government for unions to enter into talks to work out a new pay deal. Pat Leahy, political editor with the Irish Times, Joe Neville, Fine Gael TD for Kildare North, and Linda Kelly, general secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI), join The Last Word to discuss how the impasse can be resolved. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Matt Meets Patrick Horgan
When Patrick Horgan retired from intercounty hurling in 2025, he did so as the highest scorer in championship history.
Horgan has now released his new autobiography “Hoggie: My Story”.
He joins Matt on The Last Word to talk about retirement, the narrative surrounding not winning an All-Ireland medal and the rumours that circulated about the Cork team after the 2025 final against Tipperary.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.
Is The Premier League In Crisis After Man City Hammer Liverpool?
After a three week international break, the Premier League returned this weekend and the pick of the fixtures was Sunday’s tie between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield.
It was City’s first game since being found guilty of breaching Premier League financial regulations, and much of the build-up was centred around the reception Liverpool fans would give City, and how Enzo Maresca’s side would handle the criticism.
Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer with The Independent, speaks to The Last Word about the significance of City’s 3-0 win.
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Ex-Swim Coach George Gibney Jailed For More Than 15 Years
Former swimming coach George Gibney has been jailed for fifteen years and six months for the sexual abuse of four girls between 1971 and 1981. Today FM reporter Jamie O’Hara joins The Last Word to outline the details of the sentence and Justine McCarthy, columnist with the Irish Times, joins to reflect on the long search for justice for Gibney’s victims. Press ‘Play’ to hear the full conversation!
Government Invites Unions To Last Minute Talks
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has invited public sector unions to talks at the WRC in a bid to avert strike action.
Fórsa General Secretary Kevin Callinan and Seamus McGrath of Fianna Fail discuss the planned strike and why unions have rejected the Government's invitation.
To catch the full conversation, press the play button on this page.
How To Talk To Your Sons About The Manosphere
Boys and young men are facing a crisis of online misogyny, with the manosphere continuing to grow while preying on vulnerable boys.
Matteo Bergamini, co-author of Man Enough with Amelia Fairney, joins The Last Word to advise parents on what steps to take so their boys will listen.
To listen to the full chat press 'PLAY' on this page!
The Week Trending
Paddy Duffy, freelance TV producer, and Emily Keegan, Today FM Journalist, join The Last Word to go through all the biggest stories of the week.
From Limerick's College Court to a firing squad livestream, you can hear the full chat when you press 'PLAY' on this page.
The Last Word On Environment With John Gibbons
John Gibbons joins The Last Word to delve into why the 2027 Budget is a disaster for Ireland's climate targets.
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How Ireland Can Build More Houses
Economist Ronan Lyons, author of 'Brittle', joins The Last Word to discuss how Ireland reached the housing crisis that it's experiencing today and, more importantly, what can be done to fix it.
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Tech Thursday: Tech To Help You Reduce Your Costs
Andy O’Donoghue joins The Last Word with a list of technology to help you save money and reduce your bills this winter.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.
Culture Club: Tim Wheeler
Tim Wheeler, leader singer with Ash, is the latest inductee into the Culture Club. He joins Matt ahead of a series of solo, acoustic gigs around Ireland, and a celebration of 30 years of the album 1977 later this year.
Tim also discusses his favourite music, movies, books, TV and more.
To catch the full conversation, press the play button on this page.
