The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Sports writer Kieran Cunningham and Irish Times columnist Roe McDermott join Matt to look back on the biggest stories of the week.

The week started with celebrations and joy as Mayo beat Kerry to take home Sam and captured not only the hearts of the country, but gained legions of new fans across the globe.

They discuss tourism protests in Spain and why a small Spanish outpost in North Africa has become the site of mass migration.

Kieran and Roe also remember musician, actor and activist Glen Hansard who died tragically on Wednesday.<...

60 published novels & over 150 million copies sold later; David Baldacci joins The Last Word to tell us about his love for writing, and his concerns over the rise of AI.

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Edel Coffey, journalist and author of In Glass Houses runs through the best of the summer reads to get you through August.

Her choices are; YesterYear by Caro Claire Burke, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, Transcription by Ben Lerner, A Beautiful Loan by Mary Costello, A Plot To Die For by Ardal O'Hanlon and The Keeper by Tana French.

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Climate change is heating Irish seas so quickly that it's forcing fish north and away from our coastlines, thus causing a threat to the industry.

Commentator John Gibbons joins The Last Word’s environment slot to discuss the significance of the situation.

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Doctors are under-resourced and face unprecedented levels of stress. What if AI could step in?

Charlotte Blease, researcher and author of Dr. Bot, joins The Last Word to discuss her study on AI and how it could emerge as one of the most reliable physicians in history. 

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This week on Tech Thursday Andy O’Donoghue gives us the latest on foldable phones including prices and the best models 

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On Wednesday news broke of the tragic death of musician and Oscar winner Glen Hansard.

To pay tribute to him Matt spoke to his friends Victoria Mary Clarke, founding member of Kíla Rónán Ó Snodaigh, Philip King of Other Voices, writer and former manager of Sin É in New York Karl Geary, activist and trade unionist Brendan Ogle and singer-songwriter Mundy

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GP shortages are leaving some patients waiting up to two weeks to see their doctor, according to the Irish College of GPs.

The representative body for Irish GPs has warned of three ‘emerging pressure points’ across the country.

Dr Diarmuid Quinlan, medical director of the Irish College of GPs, joins The Last Word to discuss.

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Greenhouse gas emissions from residential buildings around Ireland have fallen by 5%, with commercials buildings emissions falling by 3.5%. 

Dr Peter Thorne, Chair of the Adaptation Committee of the Climate Change Advisory Council, joins The Last Word to tell us why these figures may not be as impactful as they seem. 

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The European Central Bank is expected to raise rates again in September in a bid to contain energy-induced inflation. 

Charlie Westin, Personal Finance Editor of The Irish Independent, joins us on The Last Word to discuss.

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As the funeral ceremonies of Republican senator Lyndsey Graham commence in Washington D.C, Trump is set to meet with Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. 

Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join The Last Word to explore what may be discussed at these closed meetings.

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Estate agents expect house prices to increase by 5% on average in the next 12 months, according to a new survey from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI).

However, the SCSI report also indicates that the price of a new build property in the Dublin commuter belt is already out of reach for average earners.

John O’Sullivan, member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors and Dublin based estate agent, and Michael Dowling from Irish Mortgage Brokers join The Last Word to discuss.

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Irish author Djamel White has been longlisted for the 2026 Booker Prize for his debut novel 'All Them Dogs'.

The 28-year-old writer from Dublin is the youngest of the 13 writers longlisted for this year's prize.

Djamel joins The Last Word to discuss what this achievement means to him.

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Mayo have ended their 75-year wait for an All-Ireland football title!

Former Mayo footballer Martin Carney, Keith Duggan, Irish Times journalist and author of 'House Of Pain', Will O’Callaghan and Ray Silke all join The Last Word to discuss Mayo's momentous win against Kerry.

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This week on The Last Word on Travel Sarah Slattery of the travelexpert.ie gives us her guide a cruise holiday.

She also reviews the world's largest cruise ship

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This week on The Last Word on TV & Streaming Matt is joined by Padraic Wilson McCarthy, Elaine Burke and Joe O'Shea discuss whether Love Island was entertaining this year

They also discuss picks of the week and more

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Over 300,000 people have evacuated their homes in France and Spain, with a European council official stating the wildfires could last until early November.

Naomi O'Leary, European Correspondent at The Irish Times, and Dr Claire Bergin, Climate Researcher at Maynooth University, join The Last Word to discuss the devastation the wildfires have caused so far. 

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On Monday, the death was announced of former English footballer and Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan. He was 75.

Keegan, who twice won the Ballon d'Or, had been battle stage four cancer.

Dion Fanning, co-host of the Free State podcast, speaks to The Last Word to remember him.

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Paddy Duffy and Elaine Burke join The Last Word to run through the week’s trending stories including Elon Musk’s pledge to create a ‘historically accurate’ AI version of The Odyssey.

They also discuss the announcement that the famous fashion house Dior, which is led by Derry-born designer Jonathan Anderson, will hold its Fall/Winter 2027 runway show in Trinity College Dublin and how some UK millionaires are urging Andy Burnham to introduce a wealth tax.

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Will Kerry lift the Sam Maguire Cup for the 40th time? Or will Mayo make their comeback 75 years later?

David Brady, Colm Keys, and Ray Silke join The Last Word to have a look ahead at the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

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Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Independent, has the details of the Central Bank investigation looking at potential overcharging of domestic life insurance companies for pensions and investment products.

According to Charlie, depending on the outcome of the probe, it could prove to be one of the biggest overcharging scandals since the tracker debacle.

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Tech Journalist, Andy O'Donoghue, joins The Last Word to give his recommendations for both the tech savvy and the old school gardeners. 

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Actor Adrian Dunbar is the latest guest on The Last Word’s Culture Club.

The ‘Line of Duty’ star joins Matt to chat about his favourite music, movies, books and more.

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237 drivers were arrested in 2025 on suspicion of driving whilst intoxicated. The number of drivers arrested four times was 12, with one driver being arrested six times. 

Geraldine Herbert, Motoring Editor at the Sunday Independent, and Sheila Gilheany, CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland, join The Last Word to express their concerns and raise awareness for dangerous driving in Ireland.

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According to new research conducted by the Independent Trustee Company, an increase in the number of couples getting divorced is leading to many people losing out on retirement savings.

Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent, joins The Last Word for Wednesday’s personal finance slot.

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Testimony, a documentary film created by Aoife Kelleher, explores the fight for justice by survivors of Ireland's Magdalene Laundries & Mother and Baby Homes.

Dr Mary Harney, survivor of a Mother and Baby Home, and Dr Maeve O'Rourke, Human rights lawyer, join The Last Word to share their experience in living through the institution and fighting for justice decades later. 

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Iran has said it is now engaged in a "full-scale war" after ten consecutive nights of strikes by the United States.

Scott Lucas, professor of International Politics at UCD, joins The Last Word alongside Marion McKeone and Cal Thomas to discuss the continued escalation in the Gulf and more news from the US.

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This week the Government agreed plans to impose further restrictions on the use of e-scooters after a spike in children presenting to hospitals with serious head injuries.

However, not everyone is convinced that the new laws will make the roads safer.

Ciarán Cannon, president of Cycling Ireland and a former minister of state, and Mark Ferris, detective garda in Blanchardstown and GRA representative for DMR West, join The Last Word to outline why they think further legislation won't stop e-scooter misuse.

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This week on The Last Word on TV and Streaming Elaine Burke and Joe O’Shea join  Matt to discuss if the World Cup Final’s Halftime show was as ‘crap’ as Wayne Rooney said 

They also discuss their picks of the week

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Matt is joined by Minister of State Vincent Browne after the news that the government is set to ban e-scooters for under-18s.

He's also later joined by Motoring Editor at the Irish Independent Geraldine Herbert to discuss whether the ban will be effective. 

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Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to discuss the best cities and towns to visit along the French riviera.

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Lise Hand and Cathal O’Sullivan join The Last Word for the week trending.

They pay tribute to Oscar-winning Irish actress Brenda Fricker who has died at the age of 81.

They also look ahead to the World Cup final on Sunday and, as the heatwave continues, they ask, when is it acceptable for men to be topless in public?

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From complicated election data to the ever tender relationship with China, Law Lecturer at the University of Galway, Larry Donnelly, joins The Last Word to discuss the details of last night's speech.

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Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic the Odyssey arrives in cinemas this weekend.

Brian Lloyd joins The Last Word to review 'The Odyssey' and discuss Christopher Nolan's best films to date.

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England manager Thomas Tuchel has been criticised for the substitutions he made to his team after they went 1-0 up in the second half of the Fifa World Cup semi-final against Argentina.

Despite being a goal ahead in the closing stages of the game, they conceded two late goals and were knocked out of the tournament.

Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer with the Independent, speaks to Matt on The Last Word about what the future could hold for Tuchel.

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The Just Transition Commission has published a report in which it recommends farmers receiving long-term funding in order to tackle climate change issues and biodiversity loss.

Environmental commentator John Gibbons joins Matt on The Last Word.

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Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to chat all things tech when planning family days out during the heatwave. 

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Author Jane Casey is this week’s inductee into The Last Word’s Culture Club, as she marks the release of her new book ‘Everything She Didn’t Say’.

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Bank of Ireland has warned music fans to be aware of online fraudsters and to only purchase tickets from verified sellers. 

Charlie Weston, of The Irish Independent, tells Matt how to avoid getting scammed ahead of Irish festival season.

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The state paid more than €1 million for a single deportation flight when returning 42 adults & children to South Africa in June.

Fianna Fáil's Seamus McGrath, and Aontú's Peader Tóibín, join Matt to discuss the reasoning behind this high travel bill.

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