The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Ireland has a long history with emigration to the United States. Many women were among the wave of Irish emigrants in the 19th and 20th century and a lot of them found a quiet and better life. But what about those who didn’t? Dr. Elaine Farrell and Leanne McCormick, authors of Bad Bridget joined Matt to discuss the crimes, mayhem and untold lives of Irish emigrant women. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone joined Matt to discuss the week’s biggest news stories in the US including the murder of Tyre Nichols, with seven police officers now suspended. For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

There have been growing numbers of protests targeting refugees and asylum seekers in recent months. Online livestreams of just seven of the anti-migrant protests that took place in Ireland early this year were viewed more than one million times. To discuss why we are seeing more far-right demonstrations, Matt was joined by Paul Hosford, political correspondent with the Irish Examiner, and Aoife Gallagher, senior analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

Most people will suffer from some form of back pain throughout their lives. But what causes it and how can it be dealt with? Dr Brian Higgins joined Matt to talk all about back pain. For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

DJ Calvin Harris and rapper Travis Scott will headline this summer’s Longitude Festival in Marlay Park. To discuss this and the week’s other music stories Matt is joined by John Caddell and Dee Reddy. For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

Joe O’Shea and Sarah McGuiness joined Matt to discuss the baffling phenomenon of viewers watching TV and streaming services with the subtitles on (in the same language). They also highlighted two fantastic picks of the week, including a new Netflix documentary about the life of Pamela Anderson.

Karina Molloy was one of the first women to join the Irish Army, where she rose through the ranks against a backdrop of systematic inequality and abuse. She served on 11 tours of duty and ended her career with the rank of Company Quarter Master Sergeant. In 2021, Karina was also involved in the documentary Women of Honour, which outlined abuse in the Irish Army. On The Last Word, Karina spoke to Matt about her new book A Woman In Defence. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Liverpool’s poor run of form continued over the weekend after they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Brighton. However, Brighton’s celebrations were marred by Fabinho’s tackle on Evan Ferguson which saw the 18-year-old leave The Amex on crutches. With the Republic of Ireland getting their World Cup qualifying campaign underway in March, could Stephen Kenny be without his best attacking threat against France? Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

If you’re planning a getaway this summer with your partner or some friends and can’t agree on a destination, Sarah Slattery from TheTravelExpert.ie outlined all of the latest offers to inspire an unforgettable trip this summer. Whether Portugal, Italy or Greece, Sarah has all of the tips ahead of planning your summer holiday. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

This weekend sees the return of the Allianz National Football League. Matt was joined by Marc Ó Sé, Ray Silke and Dick Clerkin to look at the weekend’s fixtures. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Many Irish car buyers may have to wait a year or more for their new car as delivery dates are pushed out further and further. In many cases the final price of the car also can’t be guaranteed. To explain why this is happening Matt was joined by motoring journalist Neil Briscoe. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Mairead Cleary and Dave Hanratty joined Matt to discuss the other stories making headlines this week including a campaign to make Irish pubs world heritage sites and Meta allowing Trump back on Facebook and Instagram. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

At a time when we’re more dependent on our phones than ever, should we be concerned about our personal information being hacked? Matt was joined Sandrine Rigaud, co-author of ‘Pegasus’, the story of how people’s privacy can be exposed by software, and an Irish hacker who helped uncover a spyware scandal. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

It looks as though sharing your Netflix password could become a thing of the past. The streaming service announced that they’ll be cracking down on multiple people using the same account from the end of March. Andy O’Donoghue explained the reason behind the decision on this week’s Tech Thursday. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Fianna Fáil Senator Malcom Byrne has proposed legislation that could see people intimidating politicians outside their private homes jailed for six months or more. This could also cover targeted protests outside of refugee centres. He and Liam Herrick, Executive Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties spoke to Matt about whether this was a good idea, and how it would be implemented should it pass. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The Doomsday Clock has been set at 90 seconds to midnight, which is the closest to global catastrophe it has ever been. It’s said to represent a time of "unprecedented danger". Meanwhile, a new SUV that has bulletproof glass, blinding strobe lights, electric door handles and wing mirrors that can shoot pepper spray could be about to hit the roads. The Last Word’s environmental commentator John Gibbons explained why he thinks this could be dangerous. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

President of the Irish Farmers Association Tim Cullinan has said that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael “need to stand up” for the agriculture sector when shaping plans to tackle climate change. Tim Cullinan joined Matt on The Last Word to explain what he means when he says “the Green Party tail has been wagging the Government dog”. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

There have been suggestions that employers should be charged to keep parking spaces for their staff as a way to help reduce the number of cars in urban centres. To discuss this Matt was joined by Janet Horner, Green Party councillor and member of Dublin City Council’s Transport Committee, and Paddy Comyn, head of communication with the AA. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

About 360,000 homeowners have submitted property tax valuations for their homes that are lower than the estimated value from Revenue. Charlie Weston joined Matt to explain why suspicions have been raised about some of these valuations. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

John Caddell and Dee Reddy joined Matt to discuss the week’s biggest music stories including Beyoncé’s Dubai concert and Madonna’s world tour. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

It’s the biggest year ever for Irish film talent at the Oscars with 14 nominations across a wide range of categories. Martin McDonagh's The Banshees of Inisherin is nominated for nine awards and An Cáilín Ciúin is up for Best International Film. Roe McDermott joined Matt to discuss which of the Irish nominees are likely to take home an Oscar. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Marion McKeone and Larry Donnelly joined Matt to discuss the week’s biggest US news stories including the tragic mass shootings in California and classified documents found at Mike Pence’s home. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Injuring the Achilles is very common and can be extremely painful. It can often be a problem for people who have just returned to exercise. Dr. Brian Higgins joined Matt on The Last Word to explain what Achilles tendinopathy is and how it can be prevented. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Following a defeat to West Ham at the weekend, Frank Lampard has been sacked as Everton manager. The team now sit in 19th place in the Premier League table. Mark Lawrenson, Tony Cascarino and Miguel Delaney joined us to discuss this as well as what is different about Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal team this season following an impressive victory over Manchester United. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Taxi booking service Free Now has ended its sponsorship of RTE’s The Tommy Tiernan Show following a joke the comedian made at one of his recent shows at Vicar Street. On The Last Word Elaine Burke & Joe O’Shea discussed the fallout from the incident, as well as a Fine Gael TD comparing Irish band Sprints to “slightly embarrassed TY students”. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Is your boss or colleague bothering you in the workplace? Have you found that your office has become hostile? If it has, how can you help improve it for yourself and those around you? Gabriella Braun, author of All That We Are, spoke to Matt about what to do when conflict arises and how best to approach an awkward situation at work. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

If you’re hoping to book a holiday abroad this summer and want to get the most for your money, Sarah Slattery from TheTravelExpert.ie has the answer! She joined us to look at the best value locations for heading overseas with the family. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Both rural and urban GAA clubs are facing different challenges that need to be addressed to support the game’s development. This has been highlighted in a series of reports in the Irish Times this week. Sean Moran, GAA correspondent with Irish Times joined Matt to discuss what is happening in rural and urban clubs across the country. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The new electric vehicle charging strategy launched by Minister Eamon Ryan this week was a “missed opportunity” to address concerns about e-scooter use, according to Irish accessibility groups. Matt was joined by Lorna Fitzpatrick from the National Council for the Blind of Ireland and Aisling Dunne, public policy officer with Bolt to discuss.

Jack Horgan Jones and Orla Ryan joined Matt to look at the other stories making headlines this week including the decision to continue serving pints in the Aviva, and the price of a hot chocolate and éclair in Bewley's on Grafton Street. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Electric vehicle charging stations could become more readily available for drivers as a new national strategy aims to have one situated every 60km. However, is this target achievable, and will it put pressure on the national grid? Aoife O’Grady, Head of ZEVI, and motoring journalist Geraldine Herbert joined Matt to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Following Wednesday’s discussion on pass/fail rates for garda fitness tests, Conor Lally of The Irish Times and Damien McCarthy from the Garda Representative Association joined us to discuss how morale within the gardaí is at an all time low. So, what can be done in order to entice more people to join the force? Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Are you finding that you’re picking up injuries while exercising? Dr. Brian Higgins from Galway Primary Care joined us to explain why that may happen, what injuries are most common and why sometimes less is more when building up your fitness. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

On our weekly Environment slot, John Gibbons gave his views on Green Party leader Eamon Ryan's suggestion that there should be a nationwide cull of deer in order to restore biodiversity in Ireland. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

One-sixth of garda applicants failed the basic fitness tests they must complete before becoming members of the force last year. Fianna Fáil TD Jim O’Callaghan says the tests are too demanding and result in recruits being excluded from the process. Deputy O’Callaghan and President of the Garda Representative Association Brendan O’Connor joined Matt to discuss whether the tests should be made easier. For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

Credit card users often have little understanding of how they work and the interest they pay according to a survey commissioned by the Irish League of Credit Unions. Charlie Weston joined Matt to discuss what hidden charges people should be aware of when using a credit card. For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

It’s expected that almost 70,000 Ukrainian refugees could come to Ireland in 2023. Matt is joined by Minister of State for Community Development, Integration and Charities Joe O’Brien to discuss how to manage the continued influx of refugees. For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

Brit Award nominations were released this week and no women have been included in the shortlist for best artist. Dee Reddy and Dave Hanratty joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss this along with the other biggest music stories of the week. For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

Marion McKeone joined Matt to talk about the biggest US news stories of the week including more classified documents in President Biden’s home and what’s happening with New York congressman George Santos. For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

New ESRI research has found that extending free GP care to everyone within three years can be done and would cost up to €881 million. But will there be enough GPs to care for people? Priscilla Lynch, clinical editor at the Medical Independent, and Monaghan GP Illona Duffy joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss whether free GP care for all is really possible. For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

The Kindle Scribe is a new take on e-readers. So, what does it do and why is it so popular? Andy O’Donoghue joined Matt on The Last Word to explain what the Kindle Scribe is all about. For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

Will you be watching this year’s winter Love Island? It returns to our screens on Monday night with Maya Jama taking over hosting duties. Meanwhile, Elaine Burke and Joe O’Shea discussed the hotly-anticipated ‘The Last Of Us’, which has been widely praised by critics ahead of its release. For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

The Irish Property Owners Association has urged the government to provide incentives to private landlords in order to prevent a predicted “exodus” from the rental market. Matt spoke to the IPOA’s Chairperson, Mary Conway, and Karl Deeter of the Irish Mortgage Brokers and asked whether such a move would have the desired effect. For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

Are you planning a holiday later this year? Sarah Slattery from TheTravelExpert.ie has all the best tips and tricks to ensure you get the most out of your money when organising a break in 2023 For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

After Manchester City suffered a setback in their Premier League title defence, Matt spoke to Tony Cascarino and Mark Lawrenson about why Guardiola’s side is losing momentum. In North London, Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the table by beating Tottenham. So, does this result now make them genuine title contenders? For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice and Mark Carlin, Managing Director at Coillte joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss the possibility of thousands of acres of land across rural Ireland being sold to the Gresham House fund in order to meet Ireland’s climate targets. For the full chat click the 'play' button on this page.

Matt was joined by Mark Lawrenson & Tony Cascarino to look ahead to a busy weekend of Premier League action. Manchester United host Manchester City on Saturday, while Arsenal travels to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. Meanwhile, can Chelsea bounce back from their defeat to Fulham when they play Crystal Palace? For the full chat click the 'play' button on this page.

Roe McDermott, Hot Press movie editor & Irish Times Columnist and Eoghan Tomas McDermott, MD at the Communications Clinic were on Friday's panel for The Week Trending. They covered the fallout from Prince Harry’s book, the death of Lisa Marie Presley and Kevin Spacey pleading not guilty to sexual assault, among other stories which caught their attention over the last 7 days. For the full chat press the 'play' button on this page.

On The Last Word’s weekly environment slot, John Gibbons spoke to Matt about an assessment from the World Meteorological Organisation which said that the Earth’s ozone layer is on track to fully recover by 2066. They also covered a recent report which found that Dublin was ranked the 5th most congested in Europe, and the 12th worst globally. For the full chat click the 'play' button on this page.

Fine Gael junior minister Damien English resigned on Thursday after it was revealed he gave incorrect information when making a planning application to a local authority to build a house in a rural area. Brendan O’Sullivan, Head of the Planning School at UCC discussed whether Mr. English’s house should be demolished. Meanwhile Daniel McConnell, Political Editor of the Irish Examiner explained the significance of the resignation for the government. For the full chat click the play button on this page.