The Last Word with Matt Cooper

As many parts of Ireland continue to experience severe flooding, there have been calls for dredging to be done to some rivers and streams to clear debris and reduce water levels.

However, is that the right solution to alleviate the issue? If it’s not, what else can be done to tackle it?

John Gibbons speaks to Daniel McConnell on The Last Word.

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Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to discuss the latest innovations in electric vehicles.

From affordable cars with high scale features to ultra-luxury EVs, there are a lot of exciting new options coming in 2026.

Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Leon Diop, co-founder of Black and Irish and author of Mixed Up: An Irish Boy’s Journey to Belonging is the latest inductee into the Culture Club.

He speaks about the importance of his Black and Irish podcast before delving into all his favourite music, TV, movies and more.

To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Has your car insurance premium risen since last year? Do you want to switch providers but aren't sure where to start? If so, Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent, has all the best tips for getting the best value for money for the year ahead.

He joined Matt on Wednesday’s The Last Word.

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Two thirds of consumers feel that tipping is becoming "less voluntary" while three out of four would like businesses to make it easier to opt out of tipping, according to new research from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)

Dr Deirdre Curran, lecturer at the University of Galway whose research focuses on hospitality employment conditions, and Gina Murphy, owner of Hugo’s restaurant in Dublin, join The Last Word to discuss tipping policies and practices.

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Writer Paul Howard joins Matt on The Last Word to talk about his experience of being a writer for season two of RTE’s dark comedy ‘SisterS’ which is returning to our screens on Thursday night.

How does spending a day in the writers’ room for a TV show differ to that of putting pen to paper for a series such as the beloved Ross O’Carroll-Kelly?

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On Monday, a retired superintendent and four serving gardaí were found not guilty of perverting the course of justice, following an eight-week trial at Limerick Circuit Court.

Mick Clifford, special correspondent with the Irish Examiner, has followed this case since it began more than six years ago. He joins The Last Word to discuss the outcome and questions why criminal charges were ever brought.

Hear the full conversation by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

US President Donald Trump seems to have changed tack on his immigration crackdown in Minneapolis as US Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino and some of his agents have been removed from the city

The Trump administration is facing major backlash over how senior officials, including Bovino and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, responded to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti on Saturday.

Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss this and more of the latest news from the United States.

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Artificial intelligence is becoming more prominent in our day-to-day lives, but are we ignoring how much it’s impacting us from a social perspective?

Author and sociologist James Muldoon has looked at how it’s shaping our friendships, familial and even romantic interactions in his new book ‘Love Machines: How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Our Relationships’.

Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear his chat with Matt.

There have been calls for tighter policing of scrambler bikes in Ireland after a 16-year-old girl died after being struck by one on Sunday afternoon.

Grace Lynch was walking to meet friends when the incident occurred. She later died from her injuries.

Conor Faughnan, Independent Motoring Expert at Carzone, spoke to Matt about what rules regarding the use of scrambler bikes are currently in place in Ireland.

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The Camino Francés is the most famous Camino De Santiago route stretching 800km across northern Spain, beginning in the French Pyrenees and ending in Santiago de Compostela.

Last summer, Barry Taylor completed a two and a half month Camino starting in Dublin and heading all the way to Santiago de Compostela. He joins The Last Word to give his guide to the Camino Francés.

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Sean Sweeney, programme director for Metrolink, joins The Last Word to give an update on the project's progress and to discuss the next steps.

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Brooklyn Beckham's explosive statement, issued late on Monday, kicked off a week of feuds which also saw Michael O'Leary take on Elon Musk and Prince Harry go up against the Daily Mail.

Dave Hanratty and Roe McDermott join The Last Word to discuss all of this plus more of the week's trending stories.

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Musician and writer Denise Chaila joined The Last Word ahead of her upcoming show in Limerick City for St Brigid's Day, her first hometown performance in four years.

Denise talks to Matt about her love for Limerick, why she stepped back from the limelight, and her return to performing.

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In the second part of his road safety special, Andy O'Donoghue has gear for every type or road user from motorist, to e-scooter user to pedestrian to stay safe in all weather.

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Journalist and author Tanya Sweeney joined Matt for this week's instalment of The Last Word's Culture Club, as she celebrates the release of her debut novel 'Esther Is Now Following You'.

Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear all her choices.

US President Donald Trump demanded "immediate negotiations" for the purchase of Greenland by the US and said he would not use force to take the island in a rambling address at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos.

Journalist Marion McKeone, Edward Burke, assistant professor in the History of War at UCD, and Tom Carstensen, journalist based in Copenhagen, join The Last Word to discuss the Trump's remarks which also took aim at Europe and declared an 'economic miracle' in the US under his presidency.

Hear the full discussion by pressing the 'Play' button on...

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has presented new legislation to Cabinet that will allow gardaí to use controversial technology to gain access to encrypted messages on services such as WhatsApp.

Some politicians and groups are concerned about the potential abuse of the technology against members of the public.

Pat Leahy, former Assistant Garda Commissioner and Olga Cronin, Surveillance and Human Rights Senior Policy Officer, Irish Council for Civil Liberties, debate the issue.

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Journalist Aimee Donnellan, author of 'Off The Scales', joins The Last Word to talk about how the weight loss drug Ozempic was developed and why she says it’s the biggest pharmaceutical discovery in decades.

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World leaders have gathered in Davos for the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting which is taking place against the backdrop of escalating US-EU tensions over Greenland.

Many political leaders took the opportunity to hit out at Donald Trump's foreign policy ahead of the US president's arrival in Davos on Wednesday.

Paris based journalist Lara Marlowe, Cal Thomas, US columnist, and journalist Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss this and more of the latest news from the United States.

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On Monday, Brooklyn Beckham launched an attack on his parents, David and Victoria, claiming that he has been “controlled by a family that value public promotion above all else”.

Rumours have swirled about a fallout within the family since Brooklyn married his wife, Nicola Peltz-Beckham, in 2022. Brooklyn claims that Victoria “cancelled making Nicola’s dress at the eleventh hour” and that his parents “repeatedly pressured and attempted” to bribe him into signing away the rights to his name.

What level of damage has this statement done to the so-called “Brand Beckham”, how should David and Victoria react to...

As Trump doubles down on this treat to impose tariffs on eight European countries if he is not allowed to buy Greenland, EU leaders are due to meet on Thursday to consider all retaliatory options open to them.

Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent with Euronews, Dan O'Brien, Chief Economist with the Institute of Economic and European Affairs and Derek Scally, Berlin Correspondent with the Irish Times, discuss the implications of the threatened tariffs and the options that are open to Europe.

To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

If you're looking to plan a trip to Mexico during 2026, Kaitlin Murphy from TheTravelExpert.ie has all the best tips and tricks to get the most out of your holiday.

She speaks to Will O'Callaghan on Monday's The Last Word, hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the chat.

Doctors who carry out aesthetic treatments like Botox and lip filler say that they are increasingly dealing with the fallout of botched procedures that have been done by unregulated injectors and that some of these patients are as young as 15.

Dr Caitríona Kieran, aesthetic practitioner, joins The Last Word to discuss the rise in black market cosmetic treatments and calls for better regulations to protect young people.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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...

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.

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.

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!

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 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’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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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...

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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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.

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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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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...

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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