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.
Man City Appeal Against Premier League Judgement
Manchester City have lodged an appeal against the damning findings that they broke Premier League financial rules.
Miguel Delaney, chief football writer with The Independent, joins The Last Word to discuss what happens next for the club.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Half A Million Trees To Be Planted In England – Should Ireland Do The Same?
Local authorities in England are set to receive funding to plant half a million trees in the next three years for protection against extreme weather conditions.
How effective will the move be, and should it be considered here in Ireland?
Commentator John Gibbons speaks to Matt on The Last Word.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.
Tech To Keep Your Home Ready For Any Weather
With cooler nights ahead, Andy O’Donoghue joins The Last Word to discuss the best tech for keeping your home ready for any weather.
To listen to the full chat, press ‘PLAY’ on this page!
How To Make Apartments More Attractive To Irish Homeowners
It's often said that the solution to Ireland's housing crisis is to build up instead of out.
But, apartments are expensive to build and many people have their heart set on having their own front door.
Lorcan Sirr, author of 'Housing A Nation', joins The Last Word to discuss how we can make apartments more attractive to Irish homeowners.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Culture Club: Dónal Gallagher
Dónal Gallagher is the latest guest on The Last Word's Culture Club!
Dónal chats to Matt about his favourite cultural picks and his new biography about his brother Rory - 'Edged in Blue: A Rock 'n' Roll Odyssey with Rory Gallagher'.
Press 'Play' to hear his choices!
The Last Good Day On Earth
In his latest book, Mark Little explores how the internet was created, reminisces when it was an open curious space, and asks, can we get back there?
Mark joined The Last Word to discuss his latest work, The Last Good Day on The Internet.
To listen to the full chat, press 'PLAY' on this page!
Author Louise O'Neill On Her Quest For A Bigger Life
Author Louise O'Neill joins The Last Word following the release of her compelling memoir 'A Bigger Life'.
Louise chats to Matt about her quest to reclaim her own life which led to an eye opening dating experiment that took her across Paris, London, New York, and beyond.
Hear the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Standoff At Drumcree Enters Third Day
The standoff at Drumcree has entered its third day as negotiations continue to find a solution to the parading dispute.
Alex Kane, former director of communications for the Ulster Unionist Party, along with Martina Devlin of the Irish Independent, join The Last Word to discuss the impact these tense days will have on future relations of the two parties.
To listen to the full chat, press 'PLAY' on this page!
The Last Word On Music: Oasis Sell Out Live ’27 Tour In Staggered Three Day Sale
Oasis have sold out their Live ’27 tour, including two dates at Slane Castle next September, following a staggered three-day sale which ran from Friday to Sunday.
The new process for purchasing tickets was introduced after backlash over the use of dynamic pricing for the band’s 2025 reunion tour.
John Caddel and Dee Reddy join The Last Word to discuss this and more of the latest music news.
The Last Word On The US: Incident At UK Airbase Involved Foreign Actor, Says Rubio
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that "the hands of a foreign actor" were involved in a suspected terror plot targeting an RAF airbase used by the United States.
His comments come after US President Donald Trump criticised UK police for releasing the five men arrested in connection with the incident on bail.
Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss this story and more of the latest news from the US.
Press 'Play' to hear the full discussion!
Louise Kennedy On Irish In London & Her Latest Novel 'Stations'
Author Louise Kennedy joins The Last Word to discuss her latest novel 'Stations'.
Louise chats to Matt about writing from her own life, the experiences of Irish in London and lots more.
Listen to the full conversation by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
The New York Time's 100 Best TV Shows
Breaking Bad has been crowned the Best TV Show of the 21st Century by The New York Times.
The list of 100 shows has been met with much criticism online, and John O'Shea, along with Elaine Burke, joined The Last Word to give their two cents.
To listen to the full chat, press the 'PLAY' button on this page.
Ireland Beat Israel After Weekend Of Chaos
Goals from Troy Parrott, Adam Idah and Jack Moylan in the space of 12 minutes against Israel on Sunday secured 3 valuable points for Ireland in the Nations League.
The game was overshadowed by events of the previous 24 hours, however, as goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the squad after expressing his discomfort in playing against Israel.
FAI CEO David Courell confirmed in the team’s press conference on Saturday that the players voted in favour of fulfilling the fixture.
How damaging has this weekend been for the reputation of the FAI? Will the team be un...
United Rugby Championship 2026/27 Season Preview
Brendan Fanning and Alan Quinlan speak to Matt on The Last Word to preview the new URC season which kicks off this weekend.
Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the chat.
The Week Trending: U2 At 50, Oz Visa Crackdown, & Pints In Stands
U2 mark fifty years together with a series of surprise gigs.
What do Australia's new visa rules mean for young people looking to emigrate?
And British Prime Minister Andy Burnham signals that he may lift a ban on drinking alcohol in the stands during football matches.
Fionnuala Jones and Eoghan Tómas McDermott join The Last Word to discuss all of these stories and more in The Week Trending.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Director Frank Berry On Making 'The Lost Children Of Tuam'
'The Lost Children of Tuam', is a powerful new film based on Catherine Corless’s investigation into the former St Mary’s mother-and-baby home in Tuam, Co Galway and the harrowing truth she uncovered.
The film's director Frank Berry joins The Last Word to discuss how he brought Corless's extraordinary investigation to the big screen.
Hear the full discussion by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.
El Niño Projected To Cause Nearly Half A Million Deaths In Next Six Months
Climate experts have predicted that more than 450,000 could die over the next six months due to the additional heat caused by El Niño.
It’s estimated to impact regions around the world and that deaths could be caused by droughts, extreme flooding and wildfires.
Commentator John Gibbons speaks to Matt on The Last Word.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.
The Last Word On Tech: High Tech Home Cleaning Gadgets
This week on The Last Word on Tech, Andy O'Donoghue runs through the best high tech home cleaning gadgets to help you keep your house spotless.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Culture Club: Andrew Hendy
Andrew Hendy of The Mary Wallopers joins Matt for The Last Word's Culture Club, ahead of the band's concert in Dublin's 3Arena on Thursday, December 10th.
Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear his choices.
Will The Irish Football Players Protest Before Game With Israel?
Will the Republic of Ireland football players make some kind of protest against the genocide in Gaza in advance of the game against Israel?
Stephen Doyle, Today FM sport's anchor, joins The Last Word from Kosovo where the Republic of Ireland team will play on Thursday just day's before they face off against Israel in Hungary.
He outlines what the Irish team and its manager Heimir Hallgrimsson had to say about Sunday's controversial game during a press conference at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina, Kosovo.
Catch the full chat by pressing the...
Personal Finance: Grocery Price Hikes On The Way
Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Independent, talks about grocery price inflation and the increases in fuel pushing up prices elsewhere.
He also talks to Matt about the plan to stop supermarkets allowing customers to avail of discounts on alcohol when using loyalty cards.
To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.
The Last Word On Music: 50 Years Of U2
This Friday marks fifty years since Bono, the Edge, Larry Mullen Jr and Adam Clayton came together to form U2.
John Caddell and Dee Reddy join The Last Word to look back on five decades of the band.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
The Last Word On US: Trump Warns He Could 'Annihilate' Iran
US President Donald Trump warned that he could "annihilate" Iran if no deal is reached to end the ongoing conflict during his address at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss Trump's speech and more of the latest news from the United States.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'play' button on this page!
Seven In Ten Young People Are Considering Leaving Ireland: Survey
According to a Red C survey for the National Youth Council of Ireland, 71% of young people think they would have a better quality of life abroad.
Matt is joined by Grace McManus, Policy and Campaigns Manager with the National Youth Council of Ireland and Sarah McGuinness, a journalist living in London to discuss the findings of the report.
To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.
Martin O’Neill To Consider Celtic Future After Poor Run Of Form
After Celtic’s second defeat to Rangers within the space of a week, manager Martin O’Neill has said that he will “reflect on the games and speak to the board” about his future with the club.
Elsewhere, Man City have gone 3 points above Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table after City beat Sunderland in a 5-3 thriller and Mikel Arteta’s side were well beaten away to Brighton.
Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer with the Independent and Off The Ball’s Will O’Callaghan speak to Matt on The Last Word.
Hit the...
How Magill Magazine Exposed A Darker Side To Institutional Ireland
Kevin Rafter, former journalist and professor of political communication at DCU, joins Matt to discuss his book, Fearless! Vincent Browne’s Magill And Ireland In The 1980s.
To catch the full interview, press the 'play' button on this page.
The Last Word On Travel: Family City Breaks
The way families travel has changed a lot in recent years, with data indicating that many are looking to head off on shorter breaks throughout the year.
With that in mind, Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to run through a selection of city breaks that will appeal to the whole family.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
How Sports Journalism Has Changed
Journalist Vincent Hogan joins The Last Word to discuss his life in sports journalism and how the job has shifted from personality driven storytelling to sterile, PR-managed exchanges.
Vincent details this in his memoir 'The Lost Sportswriter: A life up close with Irish sporting greatness'.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Last Word on Sport: Is Manchester United in Crisis?
Today on The Last Word on Sport Dion Fanning and Tony Cascarino join Matt to talk about the ongoing woes of Manchester United
They also preview the weekend’s Premier League action and more
Hit Play on this page to listen now
The Week Trending: Sydney Sweeney, Hyrox & Royal Scandal
This week for The Week Trending, Matt is joined by Kieran Cunningham and Kate Henshaw to discuss the week's news.
They talk about the Sydney Sweeney ad, the Hyrox soiling incident, a new Ryal Scandal and more
Hit Plan on this page to listen now
The Last Word On Movies: Israel Seeks To Remove Citizenship For Directors Of Gaza Documentary
Brian Lloyd joins The Last Word to review the latest movie releases, 'Bad Apples' starring Saoirse Ronan and the eighth installment in the 'Resident Evil' film franchise directed by Zach Cregger.
He also explains why two Israeli filmmakers are being targeted following the premiere of their latest documentary at Venice Film Festival and why Universal appears to be getting cold feet on releasing an Elon Musk documentary that it paid millions to acquire.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Robert Harris On Returning To Ancient Rome For His Latest Novel
Author Robert Harris joins The Last Word to discuss his new novel 'Agrippa', a fictional memoir about the Roman statesman Marcus Agrippa who was the right hand man to the emperor Augustus.
He chats to Matt about why he returned to ancient Rome for his latest book and the parallels he found with modern day society.
Hear the full conversation by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Gary Murphy On The Life And Times Of Brian Cowen
In 1984, Brian Cowen was elected into Dáil Éireann at the age of 24 following the death of his father, Bernard. By 2008, he was Fianna Fáil leader and Taoiseach. He remained in that position until March 2011.
Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at the School of Law and Government at DCU has written ‘Brian Cowen: Anatomy Of A Taoiseach’, which examines Cowen’s political ascent and his time as government leader during the financial crash.
He speaks to Matt on The Last Word.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear their chat.
Tech Thursday: TVs, Projectors And Soundbars To Maximise Home Viewing
Andy O'Donoghue has the latest in TVs, projectors and soundbars to create the ultimate home viewing experiences.
To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.
Culture Club: Evanne Ní Chuilinn
Fine Gael Senator Evanne Ní Chuilinn is the latest guest on The Culture Club!
The former sports journalist joins The Last Word following the publication of her book 'Squad Girls'.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
MetroLink Construction Activity Could Be Seen By Year End
With MetroLink now set to be complete between 2036-2038, Lorcan O'Connor, CEO of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, outlines the latest estimates and timeline for the State's largest ever infrastructure project.
To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.
Personal Finance: Sharp Rise In Price Of Home Heating Oil
There is growing pressure on Government to take action to bring down the cost of home heating oil after a sharp rise in prices in recent weeks.
Charlie Weston, personal finance editor with the Irish Independent, joins The Last Word to discuss whether the Government can bring in measures for households who are reliant on home heating oil.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Support Acts Leave Ed Sheeran’s Tour In Solidarity With Macklemore
Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, singer-songwriter Finneas and Danish pop band Lukas Graham have all pulled out of their support slots for the North American leg of Ed Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with fellow opening act Macklemore.
Macklemore was axed from the lineup after he expressed his support for Palestine on stage in New Jersey last week. Sheeran insists that it was not his decision to remove the rapper from his tour.
Dave Hanratty, host of the No Encore podcast, speaks to Matt on The Last Word.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on thi...
The Last Word On Music: Ed Sheeran Issues Statement After Macklemore Dropped From US Tour Over Palestine Speech
Ed Sheeran has addressed the removal of Macklemore as his tour support act after the rapper spoke in support of Palestine on stage.
In a statement on Tuesday, the ‘Shape of You’ singer responded to criticisms made by Macklemore and said that his shows are not “a political forum”.
John Caddell and Dee Reddy join The Last Word to discuss this and more of the latest music news including Monday’s announcement that Oasis will play two nights at Slane Castle next year.
Catch the full chat by pressing the ‘Play’ button on this page.
The Last Word On The US: Supreme Court Blocks Trump Plan To Curb Mail-In Voting
US President Donald Trump has lashed out at the Supreme Court justices after they issued a ruling which blocks his executive order to restrict voting by mail before November's midterm elections.
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!
