The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Orla Ryan from thejournal.ie and Damian McLoughlin, professor of marketing at UCD Smurfit Business School joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss the week's other news stories including Donie O'Sullivan being kicked off Twitter and influencers behaving badly. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Dave Hanratty and Zara Hedderman joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss their top podcast picks for 2022. ZARA'S TOP PICKS · Jokermen (Music) · Unreal: A Critical History of Reality Tv (Pop culture/Entertainment) · To Here Knows When: Great Irish Albums Revisited (Music) · Scamfluencers (Crime/comedy) · Bjork: Sonic Symbolism (Music) DAVE’S TOP PICKS · The Video Archives Podcast with Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary (Entertainment) · The Coming Storm (News/current affairs) · Hard Fork (Tech/social media/society trends) · Crime Junkie (True Crime) · Wrighty’s House (Sport) Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Michael Foley, Sunday Times Sportswriter and Kieran Cunningham, Chief Sportswriter with the Irish Daily Star gave their choices on their favourite sports books from the last 12 months. Sports books choices: MICHAEL’S CHOICES: The Game, Tadhg Coakley (close to best book of the year) The GAA in 100 Objects (GAA book of the year) Scoring Goals in the Dark, Clare Shine (best football book, before I've read the Rodfather) Honourable mentions: After the Storm – Damian Lawlor England Football: The Biography – Paul Hayward Away Days, 30 Years of Irish Footballers in the Premier League – Gareth Maher Martin Og Morrissey: An Autobiography KIERAN’S CHOICES: The Game – Tadhg Coakley Let’s Get Physical – Danielle Friedman The GAA in 100 Objects – Siobhan Doyle 15 Rounds in the Wilderness – Dave Hannigan Limerick: A biography in Nine Lives MATT'S CHOICES: Kellie - Kellie Harrington and Roddy Doyle Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf's Most Colorful Superstar - Alan Shipnuck The Rodfather - Roddy Collins and Paul Howard Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

John Gibbons joined Matt to give his tips for the best environmentally conscious gifts for a loved one this Christmas. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Figures provided to The Irish Times by An Garda Síochána show that just 71 fines have been given to motorists for dangerous overtaking of cyclists since legislation was introduced three years ago. Kevin Jennings, chairperson for the Galway Cycling Campaign and motoring journalist Geraldine Herbert spoke to The Last Word about how to improve safety for cyclists on our roads. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

With a GP shortage around the country, Dr. Brian Higgins from Galway Primary Care discussed the issue with Matt and advised the most effective ways to become registered with a practitioner. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Authors Kevin Power and Edel Coffey joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss their favourite fiction books of 2022. List of books: Trespasses by Louise Kennedy Homesickness: Stories by Colin Barrett The Singularities by John Banville Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman The Geometer Lobochevsky by Adrian Duncan Common Decency by Susannah Dickey The Colony by Audrey Magee Edith by Martina Devlin The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell The Anomaly by Herve Le Tellier Again, Rachel by Marian Keyes The Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan It Ends With Us/Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover The Amusements by Aingeala Flannery Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The cross examination of Jonathan Dowdall has continued in the Special Criminal Court. Dowdall is a key witness in the murder trial of Gerry Hutch. Today FM courts correspondent Frank Greaney outlined on The Last Word what happened in court. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Around 100,000 people who have had their mortgages sold to vulture funds in the past are now seeing some of the highest interest rate hikes in the country. Charlie Weston, personal finance editor for the Irish Independent joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and journalist Lise Hand joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss their favourite non-fiction books of 2022. Here's the full list: Surrender: 40 Song, One Story by Bono The fall of Boris Johnson by Sebastian Payne Chums by Simon Kuper The Escape Artist by Jonathan Freedland Faith Hope and Carnage by Nick Cave and Sean O'Hagan Without Warning and Only Sometimes by Kit de Waal Last Call at the Hotel Imperial: The Reporters Who Took on a World at War by Deborah Cohen Negative Space by Cristin Leach What Just Happened? - Dispatches For Turbulent Times by Marina Hyde Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

A recent video of Tánaiste Leo Varadkar socialising in a Dublin nightclub which was viewed millions of times on social media has raised questions around privacy laws and whether there is a need for greater regulation on social media. Liam Herrick, executive director of the Irish Council of Civil Liberties, and Fianna Fail Senator Lisa Chambers joined Matt to discuss this. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

US congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene bragged this week that if she was the ringleader for the US Capitol riots on January 6th, 2021, the violent crowd would have won and everyone in it “would’ve been armed”. Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss this as well as the week's biggest US news stories. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

This week for Tech Tuesday Andy O'Donoghue outlined some of the best tech to help you with your sleep. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Senator Mary Fitzpatrick, Fianna Fail Spokesperson on Housing and Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit TD discussed residents’ associations being banned from taking High Court actions against planning decisions, which represents a huge overhaul of Ireland’s current planning system. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Elaine Burke and Joe O'Shea joined Matt for The Last Word's weekly TV & Streaming slot where they selected their favourite shows from the last twelve months. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Miguel Delaney and Tony Cascarino joined Matt to discuss an exciting weekend of World Cup action. Tournament favourites Brazil were knocked out by Croatia on penalties and England's wait for a major trophy win goes on after their defeat to France. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

If you're looking for a fun break for the family but don't want to travel too far, then London might be the place for you. Sarah Slattery from TheTravelExpert.ie told Matt about all of the family friendly attractions that the UK's capital city has to offer. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

As the Netherlands face Argentina and France prepare to take on England, Mark Lawrenson and Tony Cascarino joined The Last Word to discuss the penultimate World Cup weekend. They also chatted Brazil's shock relegation from the competition tonight. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Jack Frost has arrived and he's here to stay. What can we expect for the next week? Cathal Nolan, climate scientist at UCC and founder of Ireland’s Weather Channel, and Keith Leonard, chair of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management joined us to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

After a week that saw Morocco celebrate their historic World Cup victory over Spain by waving the Palestinian flag, Aoife Barry and Mark Paul joined The Last Word to discuss this and other stories making headlines this week. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

World leaders and biodiversity experts are gathering in Montreal for the UN biodiversity conference COP15. Environmental commentator John Gibbons joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss COP15 as well as other environmental news. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

There have been a lot of big releases this year as audiences flocked back to cinemas. We had long-awaited blockbusters like Top Gun: Maverick and a surprising Irish success with An Cailín Ciúin. Brian Lloyd and Roe McDermott joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss their choices for the best movies of 2022. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Parents have been advised to keep children at home if they have a fever, cough and sore throat to combat a "significant increase in viral infections" amid concerns about Group A Strep. Dr Brian Higgins joined Matt on The Last Word to outline the warning signs for Strep A and what to do if you spot them. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Christmas party season is in full swing and for many people this is the first time back at a work gathering since before the pandemic. Síobhra Rush is Partner at Lewis Silkin and Head of the Dublin office who specialise in employment law. She joined Matt on The Last Word to talk about the chaos that Christmas parties can cause in the office. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

In 2016, after years in the spotlight, singer and actor Selena Gomez had to take an extended break right in the middle of her massive Revival tour. Through a new documentary the global superstar bares all and opens up about her mental health struggles. Director of 'Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me', Alek Keshishian spoke to Matt on The Last Word about creating this emotional documentary. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

There is growing concern about the bacterial infection known as Strep A which has been linked to the death of a young child. Dr Denis McCauley, chairman of the GP committee of the Irish Medical Organisation joined Matt on The Last Word. He outlined what the risks of Strep A are and how to spot it. Matt was also joined by Dr Ike Okafor, clinical director with Children’s Health Ireland to discuss the pressures and overcrowding in children’s hospitals. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The winter weather is here with temperatures set to drop below freezing. With high energy bills and cost of living pressures it’s important to save as much as possible on heating. Charlie Weston joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss how the cold snap could impact heating bills and why it’s important to make sure your house is properly insured for cold weather. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The US Supreme Court continues to make headlines, as the court's conservative majority sounds ready to rule that a Christian digital designer has a free-speech right to refuse to work with same-sex couples planning to marry. Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss this and more. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

WiFi woes at home? Trouble sleeping? Our tech expert Andy O'Donoughue has you covered, as he joins Matt to discuss Wi-Fi extenders and technology for a better night's sleep. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

100 years ago today, the Irish Free State was born. Amidst cost of living, housing and healthcare crises many of us might find ourselves asking- what have we gotten right in that time? Mark Henry, author of In Fact: An Optimist’s Guide to Ireland at 100, joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Sarah Slattery from TheTravelExpert.ie told The Last Word about the best Christmas markets in Ireland for the festive period. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Andy O'Donoghue & Ben Finnegan reviewed even more headphones, hoverboards and home tech in the lead up to Christmas. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Miguel Delaney & Mark Lawrenson joined us to analyse the latest World Cup results, which saw Croatia advance against Japan in the first penalty shootout of the tournament. They also looked ahead to England and France's quarter final showdown. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button this page.

Pat Leahy, Political Editor of the Irish Times & Deirdre Heenan, Professor of Social Policy at Ulster University and former member of the Council of State, joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss recent results of an Ipsos poll which found that Northern Ireland would vote decisively against a united Ireland if there was a border poll. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

In a new book 20 of Ireland’s top sports stars talk about their faith and relationships with religion. Author Gerard Gallagher joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss his book Faith: In Search of Greater Glory in Sport. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The judges at the Regency Hotel murder trial have decided to allow all of the recorded conversations between Gerry Hutch and Jonathan Dowdall into evidence. Today FM courts correspondent Frank Greaney was at the Special Criminal Court today. He outlined what happened on The Last Word. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Roe McDermott and Lorcan Nyhan joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss the other stories making headlines this week including the Harry and Meghan documentary and a big week for baguettes. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Christine McVie, the singer, songwriter and keyboardist who became the biggest hitmaker for Fleetwood Mac has died aged 79. John Cadell joined us to discuss her life and music. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Should motorists be automatically liable for collisions with cyclists? John Gibbons joined Matt to discuss this and more. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Former Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes has come under scrutiny after saying border residents are more prone to violence in an RTÉ documentary about controversial businessman Sean Quinn. He joined The Last Word to address those comments. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

In the midst of flu season, deciphering when a cold is more than just a cold is becoming trickier. Monaghan-based GP Illona Duffy filled us in on how to spot the signs... Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

A four-day working week trial in Ireland has been deemed a success by both the employers and employees taking part. 12 Irish firms tested out the shorter work week over a 6-month period and nine of them have decided to keep it in place. Assistant Professor of Social Policy at UCD Dr Orla Kelly and Peter Cosgrove of Futurewise joined Matt on to discuss the benefits and challenges of introducing a four-day week. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

A massive shortage of taxi drivers is expected in Irish cities and towns this Christmas season. The number of taxi drivers plummeted during the pandemic with many quitting the industry altogether. Vincent Kearns, chief executive of NXT Taxis and Noeline Blackwell from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss what can be done to get people home safely. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

A review of Irish banking, commissioned by the Department of Finance has said draft heads of a bill should be drawn up next year to protect consumers' and businesses' access to cash. Charlie Weston, personal finance editor with the Irish Independent, joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss this recommendation. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

John Caddell and Dave Hanratty joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss the latest music news including U2 drummer Larry Mullen needing surgery to continue performing and Rolling Stone's list of the 50 worst decisions in music history. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Fertility is a very important issue for many couples. Speaking to Matt on The Last Word, Rosanna Davison shared her own challenges in her fertility journey. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Large protests have erupted across China in recent days triggered by public anger over strict Covid-19 lockdown measures. How has the United States responded to these protests? Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss this as well as the other stories making headlines in the US. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

When buying technology online it is important to make sure what you buy will work in Ireland and with the devices you already have. Andy O'Donoghue joined Matt on The Last Word to talk about the importance of buying compatible tech. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Mark Lawrenson and Kieran Cunningham, Chief Sports Writer with the Irish Daily Star analysed the weekend’s FIFA World Cup results, including Argentina beating Mexico thanks to some Messi magic, Germany earning a vital point against Spain in Group E, and England unexpectedly drawing against the USA. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

In this week’s TV & Streaming slot, Joe O’Shea & Elaine Burke gave their reviews of this year’s Late Late Toy Show. They also discussed Matt Hancock’s stint on 'I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here' and the upcoming documentary on businessman Seán Quinn. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.