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.
Calls For Longer Pub Openings If Ireland Qualifies For World Cup
In order to qualify for the World Cup in the Summer, Ireland has to win two away games in March and April. The World Cup will take place in Mexico, Canada and America.
Barry Heneghan, Independent TD for Dublin Bay North and Sheila Gilheany, chief executive, Alcohol Action Ireland debate whether pubs should be granted licenses to extend hours during the World Cup, if Ireland qualifies.
To catch the full conversation, press the play button on this page.
Ireland Set For More Extreme Weather As 2025 Was Third Hottest On Record
This week, the European Union Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that the past 11 years have been the warmest on record, with 2025 coming third in that list.
This trend suggests that Ireland is likely to face more harsh and extreme weather events in the future, similar to that of Storm Éowyn almost a year ago.
Sadhbh O’Neill, Climate and Environmental Researcher and Irish Times Contributor, speaks to Matt about this issue and if there’s anything that can be done to combat it.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.
The Last Word On Tech: Cycling Safety Gear
From bike lights with built in radar to smart helmets with integrated lights, Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to run through some of the best high-tech cycling safety gear on the market.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
School Leaders Call For Review Of Hot School Meals Programme
Representatives from school management bodies have called for a full review of the Hot School Meals Programme as they claim that a failure to properly resource the scheme is undermining its potential and overburdening schools.
Dr Emer Nowlan, chief executive of Educate Together, and Regina Halpin, principal of Divine Mercy Senior National School in Balgaddy, Co Dublin, join The Last Word to discuss the challenges schools are experiencing with the programme which seeks to provide every child in primary school with a hot meal everyday.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on...
Culture Club: Joe Philpott
Co. Cork musician Joe Philpott is the latest inductee into The Last Word's Culture Club.
Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear all of the choices that shaped him which includes music, TV, films and authors.
Switching To Own Brand Products Can Reduce Your Grocery Bill By Half
Research conducted by Switcher.ie has found that a switch to own-brand products could save a family over €2,000 a year.
With grocery prices rising at a rate of 6.5pc, consumers continue to feel the pinch in early 2026.
Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent, speaks to Matt on The Last Word.
Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the piece.
The Last Word On The US: Trump Vows 'Day Of Retribution' For Minnesota
US President Donald Trump has said that "the day of reckoning and retribution is coming" for Minnesota as the state is suing his administration over its immigration crackdown following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good.
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!
The Price Of A Pint In Ireland Is Set To Increase… Again
On Tuesday, Diageo confirmed that it will increase the price of its pints from February 2nd.
The cost will increase by 7 cent per pint (excluding VAT), which is the 5th time the company has done so in three years.
Pat Crotty, CEO Vintners Federation expressed his disappointment to Matt on The Last Word, saying that publicans are “being hit from all sides” and that they “cannot continue to absorb these hits year after year”.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear what he had to say.
Judge Criticised For Describing Dublin Cyclists As A “Nightmare”
Judge James O’Donohoe reduced a €50,000 damages award by 80% to a cyclist who suffered a brain injury when he collided with a motorbike, saying that cyclists in Dublin have become a “nightmare”.
Dr Damien O’Tuama, National Cycling Co-Ordinator at the Irish Cycling Campaign and Tony Toner, freelance motoring journalist and advanced driving instructor, reacted to these comments on Tuesday’s The Last Word.
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Brighton Knock Man United Out Of The FA Cup
Brighton’s 2-1 defeat of Manchester United in Sunday’s FA Cup third round fixture at Old Trafford means United will play just 40 games in the 2025-26 campaign. It will be their shortest season since 1914-15.
Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer with The Independent and former Ireland International Tony Cascarino speak to Matt about the weekend’s results.
Plus, they reacted to the news that Real Madrid parted ways with manager Xabi Alonso after they lost to Barcelona in Sunday’s Supercopa de Espana final.
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War Games: How Previous US Administrations Saw An End To The Maduro Regime
Douglas Farah, President of IBI Consultants, a national security consulting firm based in Washington DC and former Washington Post journalist, was a participant in US war games in the Pentagon for the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations.
Having worked in South America as a Washington Post reporter for many years, he was asked to take part with other experts to 'game out' how the end of the Maduro regime might come about and what would happen in the aftermath. A 2019 Pentagon report concluded that all scenarios would end in chaos. So why did the US intervene in...
TV & Streaming: Most-Watched TV Shows In Ireland In 2025 Revealed
The Traitors Ireland stormed into the top 10 most-watched TV shows in Ireland last year, with The Late Late Toy Show once again claiming top spot with an audience of over 1.5m people.
Elsewhere, Jessie Buckley picked up the Best Actress award at the Golden Globes on Sunday night for her performance in the widely acclaimed Hamnet. On Monday’s The Last Word, Joe O’Shea and Elaine Burke look at Buckley’s TV career, which included roles in Chernobyl and Taboo.
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The Last Word On Travel: The Best Of The January Travel Sales
Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to run through some of the best travel deals to be found in the January sales.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
The Week Trending: 'Nudification' AI Tools, Scotland's World Cup Bank Holiday & More
This week on The Week Trending Matt is joined by Broadcaster and Author Aoife Barry and Sports Broadcaster Cathal Mullaney to discuss the week's biggest trending stories.
This week they discuss controversy over AI 'Nudification' tools, Scotland getting a new bank holiday for their World Cup campaign and more
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What Is The Future For The Irish Pub?
Ireland has a great reputation for its hospitality both at home and abroad, and part of it is built on the appeal of the Irish pub.
So, what appeals to us the most about going to the pub? Is the future of the pub – particularly in rural Ireland – under threat due to the increase in the cost of a drink?
Donal Fallon, Historian, Presenter of the Three Castles Burning podcast & author of ‘The Dublin Pub’ and Dr. Perry Share, Head of the School of Business and Social Sciences at Atlantic Technological University, and Co-editor of ‘The Irish...
The Last Word On The Environment: Mercosur Deal & Passenger Cap
This week on The Last Word on the Environment John Gibbons joins Matt to discuss Ireland's decision not to back the EU's Mercosur trade deal with South America.
They also discuss the Taoiseach's promise to remove the passenger cap at Dublin Airport
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Protests Take Place In The US After Fatal Shooting Of Woman By ICE Agent
Protests have taken place across the US after a 37-year-old woman was shot dead by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer on Wednesday.
Reacting to the incident, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said “We’ve been warning for weeks that the Trump administration’s dangerous, sensationalized operations are a threat to our public safety, that someone was going to get hurt.”
Larry Donnelly, lecturer in law at the University of Galway, who is originally from Boston, speaks to Matt on The Last Word.
The Pros And Cons Of Vitamins And Other Supplements
In the New Year many of us may be making lifestyle changes to improve our health, for some of us that may be taking supplements
To find out the pros, cons and whether we should be taking these supplements at all Matt is joined by GP Dr Illona Duffy and Registered Dietician and Founder of Eat well Sarah Keogh
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Tech Thursday: Are Foldable Phones Worth The Price?
Andy O'Donoghue has been researching foldable phones, the latest of which is the Samsung Galaxy Z tri-fold phone, with a price tag of almost €3,000.
Andy runs through all it's features, and the pros and cons of other foldable phones on the market, which are phones, tablets and laptops all in one.
To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.
Culture Club: Dermot Bannon
Architect and Room To Improve presenter Dermot Bannon is the latest inductee into the Culture Club.
In this longer version of the interview, Dermot talks to Matt about his favourite music, TV, films and why walking around cities without a plan is one of his favourite things to do.
To catch the full conversation, press the play button on this page.
What Is The Future For Driverless Cars In Ireland?
With the news that the world's leading chip maker Nvidia is unveiling a new tech platform for self-driving cars and London set to introduce self driving taxis the Last Word looks at where Ireland is at with this technology
Matt is joined by Professor in Transportation at the School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin Brian Caulfield, Motoring Editor with the Irish and Sunday Independent Geraldine Herbert and CEO of the Future Mobility Campus in Shannon Russell Vickers to discuss
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Does International Law Mean Anything Anymore?
Matt is joined by Professor of Law at Queens University Belfast Aoife O'Donoghue to discuss the current state and future of international law in the wake of US intervention in Venezuela and ongoing threats to Greenland .
They discuss what international law means in 2026, whether what the US is doing is against it and and more
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Quitting Smoking And Vaping Can Halve The Cost Of Your Life Insurance
Research conducted by insurance company Royal London Ireland has found that quitting smoking – and vaping – can reduce the cost of your life insurance by half.
Ireland has seen a rise in e-cigarette use, with 8% of the population now using them daily in comparison to just 3% in 2016. However, there are concerns that many people don’t realise they’re considered a smoker when using e-cigarettes and thus don't include it when applying for insurance.
Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent, speaks to Matt on The Last Word.
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The Last Word On Music: Most Anticipated 2026 Music Releases
From Confessions On A Dance Floor Part 2 to Charli XCX's Wuthering Heights inspired release, Dee Reddy and John Caddell run through the most anticipated albums of 2026.
To catch the full conversation, press the play button on this page.
Women Found To Lack Confidence In Long-Term Financial Planning
A new study from AIB shows that women disproportionately lack confidence in their long term financial planning and most do not feel confident enough to invest
Matt is joined by Financial Planner and Founder of Life Planning Kelly-Anne Quinn and Founder of paygap.ie Jennifer Keane to find out why this confidence is lacking and how we should be doing our financial planning
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The Last Word On The US: Stephen Miller Refuses to Rule Out Military In Greenland
This week on The Last Word on the US Matt is joined by syndicated columnist Cal Thomas and Journalist Marion McKeone to discuss the fallout from US intervention in Venezuela and what Trump may do next
They also discuss Trump Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller's refusal to rule out US military intervention in Greenland and more
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Concerns Raised Over Sexually Explicit Images Created On X
Coimisiún na Meán has raised concerned with the European Commission about social media site X’s AI tool Grok being used to create sexually explicit images of women and children online.
The watchdog has also encouraged users to report illegal content to the site, as social media companies are required to act on such instances.
Cormac O’Keeffe, Security Correspondent at the Irish Examiner and Ruth Breslin, Director at the Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy Institute speak to Matt about this.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.
Manchester United Sack Ruben Amorim
On Monday, Manchester United announced that Ruben Amorim had been sacked as head coach of the club after 14 months in charge.
The 40-year-old’s final game was a 1-1 draw with Leeds at Elland Road which left Man United sixth in the Premier League table after 20 games.
Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer with the Independent and Will O’Callaghan from Off The Ball speak to Matt about how Amorim’s relationship with the club reached breaking point and where United go from here.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.
Travel Trends for 2026
Sarah Slattery from TheTravelExpert.ie speaks to Matt about what trends we can expect to see from Irish holidaymakers this year.
Are peak summer months like July and August becoming less appealing due to prices, heat and crowd sizes? Do you get more bang for your buck travelling early in the year, and what exactly is luxe-scaping?
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear Sarah’s predictions.
TV & Streaming: What To Watch In 2026
Joe O’Shea and Elaine Burke join Matt to preview what programmes we can look forward to in 2026.
Meanwhile, The Traitors returned to BBC One on New Year’s Day and viewers were left surprised at an early twist in the format of the show.
Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the chat.
Nicolás Maduro Pleads Not Guilty To Drugs And Weapons Charges
On Monday, deposed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty to charges against him including drug terrorism conspiracy, cocaine-importation conspiracy and possession of machine guns and destructive devices.
Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone speak to Matt about the White House’s actions over the weekend and the wider, long term implications of the move.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.
The Last Word on Sport: 2025's Biggest Sport Stories
Matt is joined by Will O'Callaghan to discuss the biggest sporting moments of 2025.
From athletics to rugby, from Troy Parrott to Rory McIlroy they discuss a massive year for Irish sport
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The Legacies Reel - Remembering Those We Lost In 2025
As 2025 comes to a close, The Last Word pays tribute to all of those who have passed away throughout the year.
That includes movie legends Robert Redford and Diane Keaton; musicians Ozzy Osbourne and Chris Rea; beloved Irish figures Manchán Magan and Hugh Wallace; and many more.
Press 'Play' to hear The Last Word's legacies reel.
The Last Word on TV & Streaming: What to Watch Over Christmas
This week on the Last Word on TV & Streaming, Joe O'Shea and Elaine Burke join Matt to give you the best recommendations for what to watch over Christmas.
From Stranger Things to Amadeus and more you won't be stuck for things to watch over the festive season
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The Last Word On The US: Looking Back At 2025
This week on The Last Word on The US Matt is joined by Journalist Marion McKeone and Law Lecturer and Columnist Larry Donnelly to look back on the biggest American stories from the year.
They chat about all things Donald Trump, the death of Charlie Kirk and more
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Remembering Driving Home For Christmas Singer Chris Rea
With news that Driving Home For Christmas singer Chris Rea has died age 74, John Caddell joins Matt to talk about his career and some of his biggest hits
We also some memories of Chris Rea from listeners
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Non-Fiction Books Of The Year With Paschal Donohoe And Lise Hand
Paschal Donohoe, Managing Director of the World Bank and journalist Lise Hand return to give their non-fiction recommendations of the year. Their choices are below.
To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.
Lise's choices
1. Careless People: Sarah Wynn-Williams
2. The Secret Life of Leinster House: Gavan Reilly
3. I’m Glad You Asked Me That: Terry Prone
4. When the Going Was Good: An Editor's Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines: Graydon Carter
5. Kitchen Confidential: Anthony Bourdain (25th anniversary ed.)
...
The Week Trending: Late Night Revellers Resort To Calling 999 Due To Taxi Shortage
Ambulance services are being abused by late night revellers who call 999 to get them home due to taxi shortages, according to paramedics; a primary school was forced to ask students to bring in their own toilet roll due to funding shortages; and the woman caught up in the viral Coldplay kiss cam has broken her silence.
Fionnuala Jones and Dave Hanratty join The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Frank McNally On Being A 'Diary Farmer'
Irish Times columnist and 'An Irish Diary' writer, Frank McNally talks to Matt about his early career in the civil service and how he got into journalism. In his new book, he turns his attention inwards and reflects on his unusual life.
Frank's book is called Not Making Hay, The Life And Times Of A 'Diary' Farmer.
To listen to the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.
The Last Word On Movies: Movies To Watch Over Christmas
Brian Lloyd and Cara O'Doherty join The Last Word to recommend some great movies to watch over the Christmas period.
From 'Saipan' and a brand new 'Knives Out' to Christmas classics like 'The Muppets Christmas Carol', there are so many great movies to playing in cinemas and on TV and streaming.
Hear all of their recommendations by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
