The Last Word with Matt Cooper

This week, Donald Trump claimed that the USA is in talks with Iran to end the war in the Middle East. But are these claims to be believed?Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone speak to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Rory Carroll, Ireland Correspondent for the Guardian, speaks to Matt about his book A Rebel And A Traitor: A Fugitive, the Manhunt and the Birth of the IRA. His forensic look at Roger Casement's life, shines a new light on the two year chase of the former diplomat before his arrest in 1916.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Colm O'Regan, comedian and author of Gallivanting With Words: How The Irish Speak English, discusses the latest Irish additions to the Oxford English Dictionary.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

New rules for switching mortgages in Ireland were introduced on Tuesday which will see lenders having to clearly explain switching options and send reminders to holders about cheaper options on the market.Michael Dowling, Managing Director at Michael Dowling Mortgage and Financial Services, explains how this will work for customers on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Novelist Mary Costello joins Matt to discuss her latest book, A Beautiful Loan. The book focuses on the life of Anna Hughes, a teacher in Dublin and the interior and exterior forces that shape her, including her decades long marriage, and it's later break down.Mary also discusses the role of Carl Jung in her life and in the book, and broader issues around morality and the future of humanity. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

On Sunday, the death of broadcaster Michael Lyster was announced.Lyster was a hugely popular figure and was best known for presenting The Sunday Game on RTE for over 30 years.Joe O’Shea and Elaine Burke speak to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Thousands of Irish soccer fans are expected to descend on the city of Prague this week ahead of Ireland's World Cup play-off clash with Czechia.Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to run through the best sites, restaurants and bars in the Czech capital. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

There was outrage this week after a float referencing the Jeffery Epstein files featured in several St Patrick's Day parades. The NTA has asked the public for their opinions on allowing pets on public transport. And demolition has begun on a house in Co Meath following a 20-year legal row.Cathal O’Sullivan, producer on 98fm, and Roe McDermott, journalist and Irish Times columnist, 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!

Three victims of Provisional IRA bombings have dropped their civil action against former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams on the final day of the trial in London.Mark Hennessy, Ireland and Britain editor for The Irish Times, joins The Last Word to discuss the surprise development in this case. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Andy O'Donoghue runs through the newest entrant to the online banking market, Monzo. He also talks about the pros and cons of Revolut and Zippay.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Author Liz Nugent speaks to Matt on The Last Word to celebrate the release of her new book “The Truth About Ruby Cooper”, in which an incident involving Ruby and her sister’s boyfriend leads to the family dynamic being torn apart.Liz chats to Matt about the release of her sixth novel and what it takes to hook readers in from the very beginning, how attached she gets to her characters and how real-life experiences influence those shown in her writing.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Psychotherapist and broadcaster Richie Sadlier has launched a new digital teaching programme to help schools deliver social personal health education (SPHE) in line with the new compulsory curriculum.He joins The Last Word to chat about 'Let's Talk SPHE' and why it is important for students to see their peers speaking openly about wellbeing and relationships.Catch the full conversation by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

A national survey on the Hot School Meals Scheme found that 78% of respondents said their children did not enjoy the variety of meals on offer, while 64% didn't believe the food was nutritional. There were also calls for a cold option, and different portion sizes.Fine Gael Senator Linda Nelson Murray talks to Matt about the findings of her survey into the Hot School Meals Scheme. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Playwright and actor Pat Kinevane joins Matt for this week’s Culture Club on The Last Word.Pat has written and is touring five solo productions across the country in 2026: Forgotten, Silent, Underneath, Before and King. They tackle topics such as aging, homelessness and parenting and are inspired by Pat’s personal experiences or the experiences of those close to him.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear his picks.

Columnist Cal Thomas and Larry Donnelly, lecturer in law at the University of Galway, join The Last Word to discuss the latest developments in Trump's Iran war and look back at Taoiseach Micheál Martin's St Patrick's Day visit to the White House.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

This week on The Last Word on TV & Streaming Matt is joined by Elaine Burke, Joe O'Shea and Kate Henshaw. They discuss Jessie Buckley's historic win at the Oscars, Conan O'Brien as host and all the rest of the news from the awards. Plus they chat about Joe and Elaine's Picks of the WeekHit Play on this page to listen now

A new documentary exploring the growth and success of Ryanair is set to air on RTE One on Monday night.The aviation company, now valued at an estimated €30bn, was founded in 1984. Its low-cost travel model made air travel more accessible than ever before.Michael Corcoran, former head of social media for Ryanair and contributor to "Turbulence: The Story Of Ryanair", speaks to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Can you find value for money on holidays in Ireland?Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to run through a selection of great value domestic breaks suitable for couples and families.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The Trump administration has been blasted for releasing hype videos with clips from Hollywood films as part of its messaging about the war in Iran. Critics have accused the White House of trying to make the conflict look like a video game.Aoife Barry, journalist and author, and Joe O’Shea, editor of Cork Beo, join The Last Word to discuss this and more of the week's trending stories. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Journalist and Author Dave Hannigan has released his latest book “We Need To Talk About Roy - The Keanification of Modern Ireland”, in which he explores Ireland’s obsession with one of Cork’s most famous sons and how his life mirrors that of the development of Irish society in the last 5 decades.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear his chat with Matt on The Last Word.

Minister for Housing James Browne announced that the government intends to loosen existing rules around one-off homes in rural Ireland for people facing difficulties around planning permission.But is this the most environmentally friendly approach?Commentator John Gibbons gives his thoughts to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Human rights lawyer David Haigh joins The Last Word to discuss the harsh reality behind Dubai’s ‘paradise’ image amid the ongoing Iran conflict.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Musician and composer Colm Mac Con Iomaire, is the latest inductee into the Last Word Culture Club.He talks to Matt about being a founding member of The Frames (numbers 92 and 31 in Today FM's 100 Greatest Irish Songs) and working with The Swell Season before launching his solo career. Colm also discusses his favourite movies, books and music, including a once in a lifetime festival at Tramore in 1993.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

A nightmare performance in the Champions League for Tottenham Hotspurs against Atletico Madrid saw the team's goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky substituted after just 17 minutes.Tony Cascarino, former Republic of Ireland international, joins The Last Word to discuss whether Spurs interim manager, Igor Tudor, made the right call in taking Kinsky off the pitch and what's going wrong for the club.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The latest figures for car sales in Ireland indicate that electric vehicles will outpace the combined sales of petrol and diesel cars this year and this may speed up if petrol and diesel prices continue to rise due to the war in Iran.Paddy Comyn, head of automotive content and communications at DoneDeal, and Geraldine Herbert, motoring editor with the Sunday Independent, join The Last Word to discuss what's happening in both the new and used EV markets and the issues that may be putting people off making the switch to electric.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Your broadband, TV or phone bill could get steeper next month after Eir, Sky, Three and Vodafone all announced price increases from April.The cost could see some packages rise by €100 per year.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.

President Donald Trump said on Monday that the war in Iran is a "short-term excursion" but his defence chief has warned that the United States' offensive won't end until Iran is "totally and decisively defeated", raising further questions about the Trump administration's objectives in the middle east.Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss this and more of the latest news from the US.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Clinical Psychologist and Adjunct Associate Professor at UCD, Dr David Coleman, talks to Matt about his new book, Fear Less. It's a 10-step guide to helping children take charge of anxiety.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Lebanon's president Joseph Aoun has called for talks with Israel to negotiate a plan to end the conflict with Hezbollah. The calls come as the death toll in Lebanon from Israeli strikes nears 500.According to the United Nations, over 700,000 people - including 200,000 children - have been displaced over the past 9 days.Bel Trew, Chief International Correspondent with The Independent, speaks to Matt from Beirut to explain the situation.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Scotland blew this year’s Six Nations Championship wide open when they beat strong favourites France 50-40 at Murrayfield.Elsewhere, Ireland secured a bonus point win over Wales at the Aviva Stadium to keep their Triple Crown hopes alive, but did old issues rear their heads once again?Meanwhile, is Steve Borthwick’s job as England manager in doubt after losing to Italy for the first time in Six Nations history?Paul Wallace and Off The Ball’s Will O’Callaghan speak to Matt about the weekend’s action.

John Mooney, Investigations Editor with the Sunday Times, talks to Matt about his forensic investigation with Bellingcat into Christy Snr and Daniel Kinahan, who have been living in Dubai for a number of years, and who were thought to be living underground since a US bounty was offered for information leading to the arrest of the criminal gang leaders.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

President Catherine Connolly's statement on violence in the Middle East is expected to increase pressure on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to take a stand when he visits the White House for St Patrick’s Day.Ciarán Ahern, Labour TD for Dublin South West, and Larry Donnelly, law lecturer at University of Galway, join The Last Word to discuss whether the Taoiseach should use the opportunity of the Oval Office meeting to express Ireland's concerns about the war in Iran.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to chat about the great destinations Irish holidaymakers can fly to from Ireland West Airport Knock.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

As Iran continues to fire drones and missiles across the Gulf region, Irish stars including Marty Morrissey, Ryan Tubridy and Caelan Doris offered their best wishes to the thousands of Irish people living in the UAE.Emily Keegan, Today FM news reporter, and Dave Hanratty, podcast producer and host of No Encores podcast, join The Last Word to discuss this and more of the week's trending stories.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

A government review of legislation that gives employees the right to request working from home has been criticised by unions, who say there doesn’t need to be any changes to the current law.Minister for Small Business, Retail and Employment Alan Dillon TD will ask the Workplace Relations Commission to give clearer guidance for employees applying for remote work.Dr. Laura Bambrick, Head of Social Policy at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, speaks to Matt on The Last Word about the move.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Earlier this week, Friends of the Earth warned that Irish households are still too dependent on the use of fossil fuels and therefore are likely to experience higher energy bills as the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate.Environmental commentator John Gibbons speaks to Matt on Thursday’s The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Meta contractors are being told to review highly sensitive and intimate footage of Meta glasses users who may not be aware they are recording, according to a new investigation.Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to discuss this and also to explain what's going on with the AI company Anthropic and the United States' Pentagon.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Poet Dearbhla Mescal is the latest inductee into the Last Word Culture Club, where she tells Matt about her debut poetry collection, Finding Joy.Dearbhla also talks to Matt about the culture that influences her from music, to film to theatre, and she also reflects on being mum to musician Nell and actor Paul.

Earlier this week, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin said there’s a “degree” of price gouging being done by fuel companies in the wake of US-Israeli strikes in Iran.The Irish Road Hauliers Association has warned that the price of diesel could go beyond €2 per litre.Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor at the Irish Independent and CEO of Fuels for Ireland, Kevin McPartlan speak to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

As US-Israel strikes on Iran continue, President Donald Trump's war aims remain unclear as his administration officials have given conflicting reasons for the US operation.Edward Burke, assistant professor in the History of War since 1945 at UCD, Cal Thomas, syndicated columnist, and journalist 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 National Transport Authority's Walking and Cycling Index for 2025 has found that over 600k car journeys in Ireland's five largest cities are avoided every day, leading to a reduction of 120,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.Feljin Jose, Green Party Councillor and Maeve O’Connell, Fine Gael TD, speak to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the chat.

On Saturday, GAA Congress was temporarily adjourned after protestors made their way into the event in Croke Park.Protestors were marching against the GAA's sponsorship deal with Allianz for the national football & hurling league, which runs until 2030.GAA President Jarlath Burns said the protests were “unacceptable” and that “a line had been crossed”.Colm Keys, GAA Correspondent with the Irish Independent, speaks to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

The escalating conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has caused widespread disruption to air travel.Eoghan Corry, travel journalist, and Tom Randles, president of the Irish Travel Agents Association, join The Last Word to discuss what this means for passengers flying to or through the region and the potential long term impacts of this latest conflict on global aviation.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page?

The Irish Government is advising the 22,000 or more Irish citizens in the Gulf region to shelter in place.Matt talks to Catriona Lougran, communications director with CTG in Dubai and John Hayes, an Irish journalist and presenter on Al Arabiya English Channel in Dubai, about the air strikes launched over the region at the weekend, and what they are expecting over the coming days.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Lorcan Nyhan, Head of Training at the Communications Clinic and journalist Lise Hand join Matt on The Last Word for The Week Trending.Among the topics up for discussion were whether the national anthem should be taught in schools, the fallout from the controversy at this year’s BAFTA Awards and Thomas Gould’s accent making headlines in Jamaica.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

This week, Minister for Local Government James Browne suggested that the OPW should have the option to buy homes at risk of repeated flooding and demolish them to develop flood areas, rather than spending money to build flood defences.John Gibbons speaks to Matt on The Last Word about Minister Browne’s comments.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Jennifer Bray, Political Editor Of The Sunday Times, talks to Matt about her debut novel, The Lies Between Us.Centering on the warring Brown sisters, the book deals with the fall out from the disappearance of Susannah Brown. Jennifer also talks about a life-altering attack that happened to her as a young journalist at the beginning of her career. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Are you a sports fanatic or a movie buff? Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to run through some of the best tech available to create your own home cinema.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Actor, writer, and director Andrew McCarthy is the latest inductee into The Last Word's Culture Club, with Bob Dylan, John Williams and The Brady Bunch among some of his biggest influences.Andrew is currently starring in The Crucible, which runs in the Gaiety Theatre until March 21st.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear his picks.

Irish Households are paying twice as much for their electricity as data centres, according to a report by Eurostat.Charlie Weston, personal finance editor with the Irish Independent, joins The Last Word to discuss this and also claims that Irish banks are ripping off young savers. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!