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.
Tech Thursday: Tech To Keep Kids Entertained This Summer
Do you want to encourage your kids to spend more time outdoors this summer? Or are you looking for ways to keep them learning over the break?
Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to run through the best tech to keep kids busy during the summer holidays.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
BirdWatch Ireland Identifies Critical Areas For Conserving Irish Seabirds
BirdWatch Ireland has released a map highlighting over 70 of the most vital areas for seabirds around the country.
Under EU legislation, Ireland must designate areas to protect the lifecycle of birds.
Environment commentator John Gibbons spoke to Matt on Thursday’s The Last Word.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.
Money-Back Guarantees Lure Gamblers To Bet More, New Report Finds
A new study from the Economic and Social Research Institute has found that offers like free bets and money-back guarantees from gambling companies convince people to place more bets, leaving punters at risk of gambling addiction.
Dr Diarmaid Ó Ceallaigh, Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the ESRI Behavioural Research Unit and Professor Colin O’Gara, Head of Addiction Services at St. John Of God Hospital spoke to Matt on The Last Word.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.
Netflix And Spotify To Team Up For Live Gigs
Streaming giants Netflix and Spotify are in talks to team up and bring live concerts and award shows to audiences worldwide.
Ian Guider, columnist with the Business Post, joins The Last Word to discuss this and more of the latest business news.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Culture Club: Ciara Geraghty
Writer Ciara Geraghty is the latest inductee into the Culture Club.
The author of ten novels for adults has now written her first children's book 'Wanda Broom' and she joins The Last Word to chat through her favourite music, books, movies and more.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
DJ Carey Pleads Guilty To 10 Charges Of Deception
Former Kilkenny hurler DJ Carey has pleaded guilty to ten charges of deception by falsely claiming he needed money for cancer treatment.
Mr. Carey, who won 5 All-Irelands with his county, was due to stand trial today on 21 fraud and forgery charges.
Today FM’s Courts Correspondent, Frank Greaney, joined Matt to explain what happened in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.
The Last Word On The US: Trump And Musk Feud Reignites Over 'Big, Beautiful Bill'
The feud between billionaire Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump has reignited as the Tesla chief renews his criticism of Trump's tax and spending bill.
Musk claims that the legislation, known as "The Big Beautiful Bill", would undermine the work he did to cut government spending while in charge of Doge.
Marion McKeone and Cal Thomas join The Last Word to discuss the clash between the former allies and more of the latest news from the United States.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Conor McGregor Withdraws Application To Introduce New Evidence In Appeal
Former MMA fighter Conor McGregor this morning withdrew his application to introduce new evidence as part of an appeal against the outcome of his civil rape trial.
Last year, Nikita Hand won a lawsuit against the Mr. McGregor, whom she accused of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018.
Frank Greaney, Today FM's Courts Correspondent, joined Matt on The Last Word.
Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the conversation.
Meath, Kerry, Donegal And Tyrone Advance To The All-Ireland Gaelic Football Semi-Finals
The four All-Ireland senior football semi-finalists were confirmed at the weekend after another hugely entertaining weekend of championship action.
On Saturday, an impressive second half performance saw Donegal overcome Monaghan and 2021 champions Tyrone beat Dublin, leading to Dessie Farrell's resignation as Dublin manager.
On Sunday, Meath put an end to Galway’s All-Ireland hopes while Kerry dumped current champions Armagh out of the competition.
Matt spoke to Colm Keys, GAA Correspondent with the Irish Independent and Ray Silke, former All-Ireland winning captain with Galway, about the results.
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Last Word On Travel: Dubrovnik
Known as the Pearl of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik is an affordable choice for a European short trip.
From the boat tours, day trips, sunset cocktails and walking the city’s famous walls, Travelexpert.ie Sarah Slattery ran through the best of what the Croatian city has to offer.
To catch the full conversation, press the ‘play’ button on this page.
BBC Says It Regrets Not Cutting Live Stream Of Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury Set
UK police have launched a criminal investigation into comments made at Bob Vylan and Kneecap’s Glastonbury performances.
This follows comments from the BBC stating that it regretted not cutting the stream of Bob Vylan’s performance, saying its “antisemitic sentiments” were “utterly unacceptable”.
Joe O’Shea and Elaine Burke spoke to Matt on Monday.
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The Week Trending: The Rise Of Mamdani, The €48m Bezos Wedding & Will The BBC Show Kneecap At Glastonbury?
US Republicans and Democrats are sent in a spin as 'socialist' Zohran Mamdani wins the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez take over Venice for star-studded wedding, and Glastonbury organisers say Kneecap will play, but will the BBC air the performance?
Marion McKeone and Joe O'Shea join The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Are Prize Bonds Still A Worthwhile Investment?
Sales of Prize Bonds topped €350 million in 2024 but this was a significant drop on previous years.
Charlie Weston, personal finance editor with the Irish Independent, joins The Last Word to discuss whether Prize Bonds are still an attractive and worthwhile investment?
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The Best Wines To Try This Summer
Wine expert Brigid O'Hora joins The Last Word to run through the best wines to enjoy this summer.
She has picked a selection to suit all tastes including a crisp and refreshing vinho verde, a delicate rosé, and even a beautiful red for those die-hard red wine drinkers.
Find a list of Brigid's choices below and catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Aimery Cremant de Limoux Rose
Escapada Vinho Verde, Minho Valley, Lisbon, Portugal
Springfield Estate, Miss Lucy, Roberston, South Africa
A...
Tech Thursday: The Best AI Assistants For Home, Office And Car
From time trackers, smart home organisers to advanced driver assistants, Andy O'Donoghue outlined the best AI assistants to use for in the home, for work and for motoring.
To listen to the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.
EU Votes To Ban Airline Fees For Carry-On Bags And Family Seats
European politicians are seeking to ban airlines from charging passengers for small carry-on luggage or charging for families to sit together on a flight, in moves strongly opposed by the aviation sector.
Eoghan Corry, travel and viation journalist, and Kevin Hiney, communications director with Airlines for Europe, join The Last Word to discuss these proposed measures.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Penneys To Cut 100 Jobs At Dublin HQ
Primark, the parent company of Penneys, is planning to cut around 100 jobs at the its Dublin head office as the company moves to outsource some of its human resources, finance and procurement activities.
Ian Guider, columnist with the Business Post, joins The Last Word to discuss this and more of the latest business news.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
The Culture Club: R B Egan
Author and former actor R B Egan was Matt's guest in the Culture Club, he spoke about the inspiration for his new crime novel, The Landlord.
He also discussed his favourite music, film, TV, and books.
'You're Left On The Sideline' - Natasha O'Brien Wants To Highlight Victims' Experiences Of The Justice System
Natasha O'Brien came to prominence after soldier Cathal Crotty, who viciously attacked her in Limerick in 2022, received a three-year suspended sentence for the assault, sparking outrage across Ireland.
Natasha joins The Last Word to discuss the new RTÉ documentary 'Natasha', which explores what happens next for her and other survivors of violence.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Irish Woman Lifts Lid On Life Inside Opus Dei
Anne Marie Allen, author of Serve: My Lost Years At The Heart Of Opus Dei, spoke to Matt about her life inside Opus Dei and how she left the organisation ato rebuild her life through education.
To listen to the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.
The Last Word On The US: 'Do Not Drop Those Bombs' Trump Tells Israel
US President Donald Trump has said he is "not happy" with Israel and Iran after claiming both countries violated a ceasefire.
Marion McKeone and Cal Thomas join The Last Word to discuss Trump's involvement in the conflict and more of the latest news from the United States.
But to start, Dr Edward Burke, lecturer in the history of war at UCD, joins to discuss how the escalating situation in the middle east could impact global defence and security as NATO leaders gather in The Hague for a crucial summit.
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Should Public Buildings Be Given Honorary Names?
The new €2.4bn pediatric hospital will officially be named the National Children's Hospital of Ireland according to a Government proposal, despite efforts to name it after doctor and political activist Dr Kathleen Lynn.
Dr Mary McAuliffe, director of Gender Studies at UCD, and Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh join The Last Word to discuss whether public buildings should be named after historical figures or whether it is better to play it safe.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Armagh V Kerry Pick Of The All-Ireland SFC Quarter Final Draw
The fixtures for the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals have been confirmed, with the four teams which topped their groups - Armagh, Meath, Monaghan, and Tyrone - set to meet the winners from the preliminary quarter-finals.
Will O’Callaghan from Off The Ball and Ray Silke, former All-Ireland winner with Galway, join The Last Word to look back on the previous weekend's action and ahead to the quarter-finals in Croke Park.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Irish People Feel More Despair Than Hope Over Climate Change
Worry, anxiety and frustration are the most common feelings people have towards climate change and climate policies, according to a new government report.
Sadhbh O'Neill, project lead for Feminist Communities for Climate Justice, joins The Last Word to discuss why people feel so hopeless about Ireland's climate action and what can be done about it.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
The Last Word On Travel: Best Mid-Summer Deals
Spain, Italy, Greece and further afield, Sarah Slattery, thetravelexpert.ie, had a run-down of the best deals of offer for last minute Summer holidays.
To catch the full conversation, press the ‘play’ button on this page.
The Week Trending: Euromillions Speculation, Dodgy Box Crackdown & Kneecap's Big Week
Rumours swirl after Cork's lucky €250m Euromillions win, Sky to monitor WhatsApp chats in an attempt to catch dodgy-box users, & Kneecap's Mo Chara stands defiant at Dublin gig after UK court appearance.
Sarah McGuinness, political correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail, and Cathal O’Sullivan, assistant producer with 98FM, join The Last Word to discuss all of the week's trending stories.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
GAA Palestine Set For Irish Tour
Claire Liddy, social care worker and co-founder of GAA Palestine explained the origins of the only GAA club in the West Bank and what the club means for young players as they plan a trip to Ireland this summer for a series of games around the country.
To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.
Why Is Ireland So Expensive?
New figures released by Eurostat show that Ireland is now the second most expensive country in the EU for goods and services.
Meanwhile, the prices of alcohol and tobacco are more than double the EU average, making them the most expensive in the EU.
Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent and Adrian Cummins, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, joined Ian Guider on Friday to discuss the issue.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.
Lord Henry Mount Charles Dies Aged 74
Lord Henry Mount Charles, the man who introduced concerts at his iconic home of Slane Castle in Co. Meath, has died.
His death was announced on Thursday morning after fighting “a long and valiant battle with cancer”.
There have been 26 concerts altogether which included U2, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Madonna and Bruce Springsteen.
Lise Hand and John Caddell spoke to Ian Guider about the legacy he left.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.
Tech Thursday: Sky Issues Warning About ‘Consequences’ Of Using Dodgy Boxes
Sky Ireland has warned dodgy box users of “consequences” if they’re caught illegally streaming through their so-called dodgy boxes.
Tech expert Andy O’Donoghue spoke to Ian Guider on Thursday’s The Last Word.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.
Plans For Over 400 Beds 1km From UCD Opposed By Residents
Planning permission has been sought for 439 purpose-built student bed spaces in Clonskeagh, Dublin 6.
The site is just 1km from UCD’s main campus, but it has been met with opposition from residents.
Ian Guider joined Will O’Callaghan for Wednesday’s business news.
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Culture Club: Ian Leslie
On this week’s Culture Club, Will O’Callaghan was joined by Ian Leslie, author of the acclaimed book ‘John and Paul: A Love Story In Songs’.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear all his choices.
Personal Finance: Irish Holiday Makers Getting Stung By Car Rental Companies
Charlie Weston, personal finance editor with the Irish Independent had some tips on how to manage costs when hiring a car abroad.
Charlie also explained why an almost 50% increase in cattle prices could be passed on to the consumer in terms of food inflation.
To catch the full conversation, press the play button on this page.
Smartphone Bans Have Little Or No Impact On Wellbeing: DCU Study
A study from the Anti-Bullying Centre at DUC has found that banning smartphones in schools has little or no impact on education, the wellbeing of students or online bullying.
Dr Megan Reynolds, Postdoctoral Researcher at Dublin City University and Lead Author outlined the findings of the report.
To catch the full conversation, press the play button on this page.
Kneecap’s Mo Chara Released On Unconditional Bail After UK Terror Case Adjourned
Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who was charged with a terror offence in May by the Metropolitan Police, has been released on unconditional bail and will reappear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 20th.
The 27-year-old, whose stage name is Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in November 2024.
Emily Keegan, Today FM’s Multimedia Reporter, joined Will O’Callaghan to explain what happened in London on Wednesday.
Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.
The Last Word On The US: Trump Exits G7 Summit With A Warning For Iran
US President Donald Trump left a meeting of G7 leaders in Canada early after warning that "everyone should evacuate Tehran" as attacks between Israel and Iran continue to escalate.
Marion McKeone and Larry Donnelly join The Last Word to discuss all of the latest news from the United States.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
How Does The New Opt-Out Organ Donation System Work?
New legislation introducing an opt-out system of consent for organ donation in Ireland has come into effect.
Priscilla Lynch, clinical editor with the Medical Independent, and Joe O’Brien, executive director at the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, join The Last Word to discuss how this new system will work.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Is The Club World Cup The Most Pointless Tournament In Football?
The Club World Cup kicked off over the weekend and on Sunday, Bayern Munich hammered Auckland City 10-0.
After gruelling domestic seasons and ever-increasing fixture schedules, is the appetite there – from both players and fans alike – for another major football tournament?
Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer with The Independent, spoke to Will O’Callaghan on Monday.
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Dark Clouds On Economic Horizon Warns Tanaiste
As the National Economic Dialogue took place in Dublin Castle, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe warned of ‘dark clouds’ on Ireland’s economic horizon.
Daniel McConnell, editor, Business Post and Owen Reidy, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions discussed concerns raised over Ireland’s reliance on corporation tax and the threats ahead to economic security.
To catch the full conversation, press the ‘play’ button on this page.
The Last Word On Travel: Tunisia
Sinéad Kennedy, travel expert and host of Wellness Activity Breaks, joins The Last Word to talk all about her recent visit to Tunisia and why she thinks it the ideal trip for holidaymakers looking to explore beyond typical sun destinations.
Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
