The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Irish actor Liam Cunningham joined Matt as he returned to Ireland from Barcelona where he supported the launch of the Global Sumud Flotilla of 50 vessels. He explained what aid is being carried by the flotilla, and what his meetings with Greta Thunberg have been like.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to discuss the best holiday destinations for those looking for some winter sun.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Pat Kenny is moving to the weekends on Newstalk and Claire Byrne is taking his morning slot.Jim Gavin is to seek the Fianna Fáil Presidential nomination according to the party's director of elections, Minister Jack Chambers.To discuss the day's news, and other trending stories from the week, Matt was joined by Lise Hand and Joe O'Shea.Hit play on this page to listen now. 

A new import tax on small packages sent to the United States has come into effect which means that people in the US who receive packages worth over €85 will now have to pay a 15% import tax.Garrett Bridgeman, managing director of An Post Commerce, joins The Last Word to discuss how they are facilitating the change and what Irish customers must do when sending parcels to the US.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Irish filmmaker and undersea cameraman Ken O'Sullivan has spent the last two decades documenting the lives of dolphins off the coast of Ireland.He joins The Last Word to discuss his new documentary 'Dolphins: Wonders of the Ocean' which will soon air on RTÉ. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Manchester United's woes continued on Wednesday night after League Two side Grimsby Town knocked Ruben Amorim's side out of the Carabao Cup.After a defeat and a draw in their opening Premier League fixtures against Arsenal and Fulham respectively, is the pressure already building on United to get a result against Burnley this weekend?Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer with the Independent, spoke to Matt on Thursday's The Last Word.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the piece.

This week on The Last Word on the Environment Matt is joined by founder and editor of ClimateChange.ie John Gibbons to discuss the week's biggest environmental news.This week they discuss the presence of Asian Hornets in Ireland growing, how Climate Change is making Wild Fires 22% more intense and more.Press play on this page to listen now.

Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to discuss the latest range of Google Pixel phones which include some extraordinary new features powered by artificial intelligence.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Róise Goan, CEO and Artistic Director of the Dublin Theatre Festival was the latest inductee into the Culture Club where she discussed her favourite music, film, TV, books and of course, theatre.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Chair of the Consultants’ Committee of the Irish Medical Council Professor Matthew Sadlier has warned that beauty influencers pushing products and unobtainable standards are becoming as dangerous for young women as Andrew Tate is for young men.Matt caught up with Professor Sadlier about these dangers and the impact he is seeing them have on young women presenting with eating disorders and other mental illnesses.Hit Play on this page to listen now.

College course points have increased once again across all the major universities. With the first round of CAO offers out today, just over 50% of students got their first choice on their CAO.After the most CAO applications ever, Matt was joined by the Union of Students in Ireland's Daniel Walsh and Eoin Houlihan, Guidance Counsellor with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors Ireland to discuss what this means for students and what are the biggest issues facing Higher Education now.Hit play on this page to listen now.

Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent Charlie Weston is back with Matt to discuss all your finance queriesOn this week Charlie talks us through why it is important to challenge your insurer on your premiums amid ongoing price hikes across some of Ireland's biggest insurance providers.Hit play on this page to listen now.

Dee Reddy and Dave Hanratty had the latest music news including the engagement of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.They had an extensive preview of the biggest ever Electric Picnic, taking place in Stradbally, Co Laois.

In this week's The Last Word on the US, Will O'Callaghan talks to Marion McKeone and Cal Thomas about President Donald Trump's new order to remove the Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, his plans for future National Guard deployments and a potential future meeting between Trump and Kim Jong Un.Hit Play on this page to listen now.

206 former EU and national ambassadors and former senior EU officials, have signed a letter urging the EU to take action against Israel over the violence in Gaza following the official confirmation of Famine in the strip.Also today, thousands of activists have joined hostage families for what they’re calling “a day of disruption” calling for an immediate return of the hostages held by Hamas. Will O'Callaghan is joined by Europe Correspondent for EuroNews Shona Murray and Feature Story Reporter in Tel Aviv Blake Shifton to discuss all the latest,Hit Play on this page to listen now.

The Business Post's Ian Guider joins Will O'Callaghan to discuss the latest Business News.On this episode they discuss the government's newly announced supports for business that will be affected by Donald Trump's Tariffs and the new agreement between the Advertising Standards Authority and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission which allows them to share the details of influencers who are not complying with advertising rules.Hit Play on this page to listen now.

Former Dublin GAA manager Jim Gavin, who led Dublin to a historic five in a row, is the latest speculated candidate in the presidential election.With only Catherine Connolly formally confirmed as a candidate and the election rapidly approaching, Will O'Callaghan spoke to Editor of the Business Post Danny McConnell and Political Correspondent Tabitha Monahan about all the latest candidate news.Hit Play on this page now to catch the full conversation.

Sarah Slattery from TheTravelExpert.ie returned to The Last Word on Monday to highlight some of the best travel deals available to you if you're planning a winter break this year.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear her suggestions.

Pioneer of electronic music Gary Numan spoke to Matt about his extensive career in music and his new tour for the 45th anniversary of his album Telekon.To catch the interview, press the 'play' button on this page.

Donald Trump claims that he is a grass expert as the owner of several golf courses, Mark Zuckerberg has been buying up houses in Palo Alto for triple their market price and Denmark has abolished VAT on books to stop a 'reading crisis'.Matt is joined by US correspondent with The Business Post Marione McKeone and host of No Encores Podcast Dave Hanratty to discuss this week's trending stories.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The class of 2025 has been awarded fewer top grades as grade deflation is introduced for the first time since the 2020 inflation.The proportion of H1s is down by 2.6% and  O1s down by 2.1% compared to last year. Questions are now being asked about what this will mean for CAO offers next week.Matt was joined by Irish Times Education Columnist and Guidance Counsellor Brian Mooney and President of Teacher Union Ireland Anthony Quinn to discuss the results

Joining Matt this week for The Last Word On The Environment is Environmental and Climate Change Researcher Sadhbh O’Neill.They discuss the more than 40,000 fish that have been killed in the River Blackwater in Cork, how wildfire smoke is more dangerous than previously thought and how Donald Trump is reducing tax subsidies for wind and solar energy initiatives.Hit Play on this page to Listen Now.

Co-producer of the Netflix documentary on the same case, Brian Carroll sits down with Matt to discuss his new book A Deadly Marriage.In his book he reveals new details about the murder of Jason Corbett by his wife Molly Martens and her father, Thomas.Hit Play on this page to listen now.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health, spoke to Matt about the roll out of the RSV immunisation programme for children.The minister also addressed the controversy surrounding continued waiting times for children needing scoliosis surgery and delays with the completion of the National Children's Hospital.To listen to the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Andy O'Donoghue joins Matt to run through all of the Back to College Tech essentials and chats about the best practice for AI use by students.Hit Play on this page to Listen Now

Actor Frank Blake is the latest guest to be inducted into the Culture Club!He joins The Last Word to discuss his favourite music, movies, TV and more.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon joined Matt to discuss life after politics, her hopes for an independent Scotland, her meetings with Queen Elizabeth and her new book, Frankly.To catch the full conversation press the 'play' button on this page.

New figures have shown that people aged over 50 are the biggest group seeking personal insolvency solutions in Ireland.Mitchell O’Brien of IRS Ireland found that most of his insolvent clients are over 50, and many are nearing retirement age.Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent, spoke to The Last Word on Wednesday.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

Ireland didn't make the cut for the annual ranking of the world's richest countries published by The Economist magazine because it is not "truly rich".Ian Guider, columnist with the Business Post, joins The Last Word to discuss whether Ireland’s wealth ranking is a true measure and more of the latest business news.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

European leaders went on the charm offensive in their visit to the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as they sought to ensure that US President Donald Trump's doesn't bow to Russia in an attempt to end the war in Ukraine.On The Last Word, Marion McKeone and Cal Thomas are joined by Edward Burke, lecturer in war studies at UCD, to discuss where things stand between Trump, Ukraine, Europe and Russia after the White House summit.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Award-winning Irish author Sally Rooney has said she would donate her earnings from her books to support Palestine Action, with Downing Street warning that she risks facing a terrorist offence if she does so.The group was recently proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK.Mark Paul, London Correspondent with the Irish Times, spoke to Frank Greaney on Tuesday’s The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

With incredible wildlife, mesmerising culture and stunning white sand beaches, Sri Lanka has so much to offer. Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to give her guide to visiting the beautiful island in the Indian Ocean.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The lineup for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing has been revealed, which features former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn and reality star Vicky Pattison.Elsewhere, the Rose of Tralee kicks off on Monday night and Ryan Tubridy is set to return to Irish television screens.Joe O’Shea and Elaine Burke joined Frank Greaney for The Last Word on TV & Streaming.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

Oasis brought the house down over the weekend with two unforgettable gigs at Croke Park.Fans basked in the sunshine on Saturday and Sunday as the Gallagher brothers rolled back the years with over two hours of hits.Frank Greaney and Alison Healy both attended Sunday night’s show, and they discussed what made the weekend so special.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

The new season of the Premier League kicks off on Friday night as current holders Liverpool play host to Bournemouth at Anfield.Can Arne Slot's side win back to back titles, will Man City recover after a disappointing season last year, or could Mikel Arteta's Arsenal finally get over the line?Daniel McConnell was joined by former Republic of Ireland international Tony Cascarino, Sportswriter with The42.ie, Gavin Cooney, & The Independent's Chief Football Writer, Miguel Delaney, to preview the new season.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear their chat.

Tennis star Emma Raducanu's request for a crying child to be removed during her match sparks debate about child free zones; Sylvanian toymaker drops its lawsuit against Irish social media creator; and should the president of Ireland have more than a cúpla focal?Sarah McGuinness, political correspondent with Irish Daily Mail, and Cathal O’Sullivan, assistant producer on 98FM, join The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Andy O'Donoghue was back to give his rundown of the very best in back to school tech, from laptops, to iPads, and reusable notebooks.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

The biggest gigs of 2025 are almost here as thousands of fans look set to descend on Croke Park to see Oasis.It will be the first time Noel & Liam Gallagher play Ireland since they headlined Slane Castle in 2009, and excitement has been building all summer.Today FM’s news and sport anchors, Ben Finnegan and Stephen Doyle, are two Oasis superfans and will be attending the concerts across the weekend.They spoke to Daniel McConnell on The Last Word about what they’re expecting from the performances.

Temperatures have continued to soar across Europe, with parts of Paris experiencing 39 degrees Celsius this week.Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said that she would deploy a “major air conditioning equipment plan” around the country if her party came to power. She accused the French government of “forcing ordinary citizens to endure unbearable heat”.Sadhbh O’Neill, Environmental and Climate Change Researcher and Contributor to the Irish Times, spoke to Daniel McConnell on Thursday’s The Last Word.

An explosive new book about the House of York includes revelations about Prince Andrew's links to the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and physical fights amongst members of the royal family.Historian and author Andrew Lownie joins The Last Word to discuss his book 'Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York'.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI has made a longshot €34.5 billion bid for the world's most popular web browser, Google Chrome.Brian Carey, business editor of the Sunday Times, 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!

Ahead of the Gaiety production of The Secrets of Primrose Square, actor Marion O'Dwyer was our latest inductee in the Culture Club where she discussed all the cultural influences in her lifeTo catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

According to the latest Irish Independent Doddl.ie Mortgage Switching Index, up to 100,000 mortgage holders in Ireland are overpaying on their home loans.While fixed rates have reduced significantly over the last 18 months, the same cannot be said for variable rates.Martina Hennessy of Doddl.ie said that “unless more borrowers actively review their rates and switch, there’s no pressure to bring these uncompetitive rates down and we will struggle with pricing discipline in the Irish market.”Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent, spoke to Ian Guider on Wednesday's The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear their chat.

US National Guard troops are arriving in Washington DC on the order of President Donald Trump who has declared a "public safety emergency" in the city.Marion McKeone and Cal Thomas join The Last Word to discuss this and more as Trump also prepares to sit down with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Many have described Israel's offensive in Gaza over the last 22 months as genocide, something which the Israeli government has strenuously pushed back on.Omer Bartov has a unique perspective on this, not only as professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University in the United States, but also as a former member of the Israeli Defence Forces.He joins The Last Word to explain why he believes Israel's actions in Gaza amount to genocide.Hear the full conversation by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

In June, Sinn Féin tabled a motion which sought extend presidential voting rights to Irish citizens in Northern Ireland and abroad.At the moment, only citizens living in Ireland can vote in the presidential election. Why is this the case, and does it alienate those residing abroad?TV Producer Paddy Duffy, who is originally from Donegal but now lives in the UK, and Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at the School of Law and Government in DCU, spoke to Ian Guider on Tuesday’s The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

The new Pension Automatic Enrolment (AE), which is now called the ‘My Future Fund’, is due to arrive in January 2026. So, what’s the criteria for it, and will it actually benefit workers?Paul Kenny, former Pensions Ombudsman and Programme Leader of the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland, joined Ian Guider on The Last Word to answer your questions.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

Turquoise water, white sand beaches and incredible sea life - Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to discuss travel to the Maldives.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

A recent survey carried out on behalf of Pure Telecom has found that almost 10% of adults in Ireland have had a romantic relationship with an AI chatbot in the last 12 months.Mental health charity Turn2Me has said that such figures highlight a loneliness pandemic in this country.CEO of Turn2Me, Fiona O’Malley, and author and broadcaster, Aoife Barry, spoke to Ian Guider on The Last Word about this.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Broadcaster Ryan Tubridy repays €150,000 sum that was at the centre of the RTÉ payments scandal, Fox News reports on 'dangerous' Dublin but the stats don't add up, and a new study says that 10% of adults in Ireland have pursued a romantic relationship with an AI chatbot.Aoife Barry and Joe O'Shea join The Last Word to discuss these stories and more in The Week Trending.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!