The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Sarah Slattery from TheTravelExpert.ie returned for The Last Word’s weekly travel slot to give the best tips for travel-related Christmas presents this year. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Dr. Eoin O’Malley, Associate Professor in Political Science at the School of Law and Government at DCU joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss what the Irish government can do to quell possible concerns about the rise of immigration in the country. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

In a new book from the Game of My Life series Cork ladies footballers recall their highlights of playing the game, as well as what motivates them on the field. Ger McCarthy has put these together in Cork LGFA: Game of My Life and he joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

This week Ireland South MEP Mick Wallace spoke in the European Parliament and criticised the protests in Iran. Naomi O’Leary, Europe correspondent with the Irish Times, reports. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Ben Finnegan and Orla Ryan joined Matt to look at the other stories making headlines this week including the World Cup in Qatar and the French man who won the legal right to be boring. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

On The Last Word on Movies Brian Lloyd joined Matt to discuss this week’s biggest movie releases - including Glass Onion, the highly anticipated Knives Out sequel. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Should carpoolers have to pay for tolls? John Gibbons joined the Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

As the days get shorter and colder, have you noticed a change in your mood? Seasonal affective disorder is a form of mood disorder that changes with the seasons, usually beginning in the autumn and resolving in the springtime. Dr Brian Higgins, GP at Galway Primary Care joined the Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Gardaí have joined law enforcement groups across the world in an international investigation into a website which enabled fraudsters to make phone calls from trusted numbers to commit cybercrime. They have arrested six people in Ireland. Stephen Breen, Crime Editor with the Irish Sun and Sarah McGuinness who has experienced spoofing fraud joined us to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The Last Word's annual Gadget Show is back, brought to you by Currys. Our tech expert Andy O'Donoghue was joined by a number of other guests to review the best phones, speakers, laptops, tablets, wearables and lots more. Ed Smith and Elaine Burke gave us their sound and vision recommendations, Brian Lloyd discussed gaming, Brianna Parkins and Pamela Joyce joined us with their health and lifestyle favourites, while Pamela joined Ben Finnegan to recommend some must-have home tech. Curry’s Black Tag sale is now on, and you can shop the products featured in the Gagdet Show online at Currys.ie or in store. Listen to the entire show by pressing the 'Play' button on this page. For details of all of the products reviewed, go to: https://bit.ly/3ED9zOG Here are our Top Picks that we think you'll love: SAMSUNG The Freestyle SP-LSP3BLAXXU Smart Full HD TV Projector with Amazon Alexa Portable and easy to use, The Samsung Freestyle is the perfect projector for any movie night. Nespresso Vertuo POP Expect delicious coffee in seconds from the Nespresso Vertuo POP. No mess, no fuss, suitable for the office desk or the kitchen worktop. HOVER-1 Superstar Hoverboard & Go-Kart Combo Dust off those helmets! With LED lights and wheels and a built-in Bluetooth speaker, this hoverboard/go cart hybrid is sure to bring hours of fun. Google Pixel 7 Pro With a state-of-the-art camera and built-in software so you can edit on the fly, the Pixel 7 Pro has fast become one of the most sought-after phones of the year. SONY wh-1000xm5 wireless Bluetooth noise-cancelling headphones Sleek and lightweight, these premium, noise-cancelling earphones are the perfect gift for any music buff this Christmas.

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday on the horizon consumers are being warned to be wary of scams. Fraudsters stole €45 million from Irish online shoppers in the second half of last year. Andy O'Donoghue joined Matt on The Last Word to give his tips to stay cyber safe when shopping this Black Friday. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Ed Smith and Dave Hanratty joined Matt to discuss the week's biggest stories, including Blur returning to Dublin, Bono's stage show and why Mariah Carey can't officially be called the Queen of Christmas. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

US President Joe Biden has just celebrated his 80th birthday becoming the first ever president to do so while in office. Is Biden too old to run for a second term? Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss this as well as other US news stories of the week.

There is over €150 billion in household savings in banks and credit unions in Ireland but those who are lucky enough to have money set aside are getting little or nothing in interest back. Charlie Weston spoke to Matt about why Irish banks have the worst interest rates in Europe. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

COP27 has come to a close with nations finally agreeing on a loss and damage fund to help vulnerable countries. Siobhan Curran, head of policy and advocacy with Trocaire and Dr Tara Shine, founder of Change by Degrees and author of 'How to Save Your Planet One Object at a Time' joined Matt on The Last Word to look at the achievements and the failures of COP27. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

RTE's new documentary, 'Saipan: Rebel Without A Ball' explores how far Ireland could have gone if Roy Keane had stayed at the World Cup in Saipan. Joe O'Shea and Elaine Burke joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss this and more. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

With Black Friday coming up Sarah Slattery from the travelexpert.ie joined us to discuss the best travel deals including package holidays, flights, cruises and more. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Teams from seven European countries have confirmed they will no longer be wearing the 'One Love' armband due to fear of a yellow card being issued. Kieran Cunnignham, chief sportswriter with the Irish Daily Star spoke to Matt about the ongoing controversies that surround the World Cup as it begins. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The World Cup kicks off in Qatar on Sunday. Mark Lawrenson and Miguel Delaney joined Matt on The Last Word to preview the tournament. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Independent experts have been appointed to oversee a process of restorative justice for survivors of historical abuse at schools run by the Spiritan Congregation. The process was started by a group of past pupils of Blackrock College in Dublin. We spoke to Corry MacMahon and John Coulter, who outlined how they got to this point and how the restorative process will work. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Brianna Parkins and Kieran Cunningham joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss the other stories making headlines this week including a ban on the sale of alcohol at World Cup stadiums in Qatar and whether having more women in power would help solve the climate crisis. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Dr. Brian Higgins, GP at Galway Primary Care joined Ian Guider to discuss weight loss injections and their effectiveness as an alternative treatment for obesity. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Fianna Fáil TD Christopher O’Sullivan and John Gibbons covered the global population surpassing 8 billion, and why that could be a bad thing for the environment. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Toll charges on Irish roads will increase by up to 60% in the new year. Geraldine Herbert & Peadar Toibin spoke to Ian Guider on The Last Word about what this could mean for motorists. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

With the 2022 FIFA World Cup only days away, Sam Rowe from Amnesty International Ireland and Will O’Callaghan of Off The Ball joined Ian Guider to talk about the controversies surrounding the tournament, and whether fans should boycott it due to its poor record on human rights issues. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Aisha tells the story of a young Nigerian woman who is in limbo within the Direct Provision system in Ireland and her friendship with security guard Conor. Film director Frank Berry joined us to discuss his inspiration for the film, the research he undertook, and working with actors Letitia Wright (Black Panther) and John O’Connor (The Crown). Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Following disappointing midterm results for the Republican Party and many candidates backed by Donald Trump, the former US president has announced plans for a third White House run. Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone discussed the upcoming Republican nomination battle. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The profits of motor insurers are continuing to surge, but customers are only getting tiny premium cuts according to the latest figures. Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor of the Irish Independent has all the details. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Matt was joined by Jack Chambers TD, Government Chief Whip & Minister of State for Sport, the Gaeltacht & Defence to discuss the Cabinet signing off on a bid for Ireland to be a joint host of the 2028 European football championship. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

John Caddell & Dave Hanratty joined us to review ‘Only the Strong Survive’, the latest album from Bruce Springsteen, and predicted what fans can expect to hear from Dermot Kennedy’s upcoming album ‘Sonder’. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Nora Twomey, animator, screenwriter and director spoke to The Last Word about ‘My Father’s Dragon’, which was released on Netflix on November 4th. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

This week’s US slot with Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone focused on what former US President Donald Trump’s latest announcement could mean for the 2024 election. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Former Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill joined Matt to discuss his life, career and new autobiography, On Days Like These. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Ireland's Fittest Family could be the next prime time RTE show to be axed due to budget cuts. Joe O'Shea and Elaine Burke joined us to discuss this and more. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

On our weekly glimpse into the world of travel, Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joins Matt to discuss Roman holidays. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Cervical cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan passed away today aged 48. In September 2020, she joined Matt to talk about her favourite music, movies, and books, her passions and inspirations. You can listen to that Culture Club interview by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Tony Cascarino and Mark Lawrenson joined Matt to discuss this weekend's Premiere League proceedings. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

A teenage boy has been found guilty of murdering a 49-year-old mother-of-two as she made her way home from work in Dublin city on the 20th of January last year. Today FM's Courts Correspondent Frank Greaney joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Journalist Lise Hand and political reporter with the Irish Times, Jack Horgan Jones, discuss some of the other stories making headlines this week, including a Dublin bus mounting pavements and Sean Penn loaning his Oscar to Zelensky. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Brian Lloyd joins Matt to go through the latest movies to hit Irish screens. For the full chat click the play button below.

John Gibbons joins Matt for his weekly environmental slot. This week they discuss car parts and Cop 27 progress. For the full chat click the play button below.

Ollie Grimes, Owner of the Snug in Skerries joins Matt to discuss Heineken's decision to raise the price of their draughts and ciders. For the full chat click the play button below.

Dr Brian Higgins joins Matt to talk about complications that occur from diabetes. For the full chat click the play button below.

Season five of Netflix's royal drama The Crown arrived to Netflix today and has already caused controversy. What's fact, what's fiction and is it worth a watch? Mic Wright, journalist & media critic, joined us to discuss.

Those with variable rate mortgages are now in ‘last-chance saloon’. Is it too late to lock in? Charlie Weston joined us to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The House is leaning Republican in the States while the vote for the Senate is on a knife-edge. Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone gave us the latest on the US midterm elections. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Bob Dylan played the 3Arena this week in his long-awaited return to Dublin. Zara Hedderman was at the gig and joined Matt to review it. John Caddell and Dee Reddy also covered the latest music news and releases including new music from Irish band House Plants and the tragic passing of singer Aaron Carter. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Voters in the US have been heading to the polls for the midterm elections which will determine whether the Democrats lose control of Congress. The party that controls the White House typically loses seats in the midterms. Matt is joined by Marion McKeone and Cal Thomas to discuss these key elections as well as the other biggest stories from the States. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Laureate for Irish Fiction, Colm Tóibín spoke to Matt about his latest book 'A Guest at the Feast', which is a collection of essays about his own life. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

There have been big changes to social media giant Twitter since Elon Musk’s takeover and more are expected to come. As a result lots of people have started looking for an alternative platform. Andy O’Donoghue spoke to Matt on The Last Word about Mastodon, a platform that has already seen a surge in users, as well as other alternatives to Twitter. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.