The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Kieran Cunningham joins The Last Word as he and Matt run through their favourite sports books that were released in 2025.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

There's still time to order Christmas present online and Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to run through some tech gifts that everyone will love!He has 3D printers, family games, speakers and even a high tech pet feeder.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Musician David Keenan is the latest guest on the Culture Club. David recently released his third album 'Modern Mythologies' and the making of the album is documented in the award-winning Irish language documentary ‘Focla ar Chanbhás'.He joins The Last Word to chat about his favourite music, movies, TV and more.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Matt is joined by Russell Alford and Patrick Hanlon aka The Gastrogays to discuss the best cookbooks of 2025They give you all the recommendations you'll need to cook up a storm or the perfect Christmas present idea Hit Play on this page to listen now

Today, the Dail debated a new bill from the Social Democrats aimed at tackling mistreatment of dogs at puppy farms.Matt is joined buy Social Democrats TD for Wicklow Jennifer Whitmore to discuss the bill Hit Play on this page to listen now

This winter many people have noticed their electricity costs increasing significantly but why are these prices so high and what can people do?Matt is joined by Sinn Féin TD & Spokesperson on Climate, Environment, Energy and Transport Pa Daly and Head of Communications at Bonkers.ie Daragh Cassidy to discuss Hit Play on this page to listen now

Judith Boyle, Lecturer in Beverages at TU Dublin is back with Matt on The Last Word and this time she’s got a selection of beers that can be enjoyed over the Christmas period (and beyond!).Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear what she's picked.

The Kenova report has been published and in it the independent inquiry has encouraged the UK Govern to officially reveal the identity of 'Stakeknife', the British army’s most senior double agent during the Troubles widely believed to be senior Belfast IRA member Freddie Scappaticci.The report has also published findings on the Dublin/Monaghan bombings.Author of Stakeknife’s Dirty War Richard O'Rawe and retired Detective Chief Superintendent in An Garda Síochána John O’Brien join Matt to discuss the report's findings Hit Play on this page to listen now

After his explosive comments over the weekend, including that his relationship with manager Arne Slot has broken down, what's next for one of Liverpool's most successful players?Matt is joined by Chief Football Writer at the Independent Miguel Delaney and former professional footballer Tony Cascarino to discuss Salah's future and Slot's most recent comments.Hit Play on this page to listen now

This week on The Last Word on TV & Streaming, Joe O'Shea and Elaine Burke join Matt to discuss the Golden Globe Nominations and Taylor Swifts new docuseries They also reflect on this year's I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!Hit Play on this page to listen now

Christmas can be a time of excess, from the food to the presents and, of course, the alcohol. But Irish drinking patterns are changing, with more people looking to moderate their alcohol consumption.Vaughan Yates, founder of the TVM Collective, joins The Last Word to chat about some great non-alcoholic drinks options for the festive period.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

A new report from MyHome found that 'Opaque Bidding' is contributing to Ireland's housing.Another report from Sherry Fitzgerald also found that house prices are beyond the reach of the average couple in Ireland.Hit Play on this page to listen now

This week for The Last Word on Travel, The Travel Expert Sarah Slattery talks to Matt about the best deals on travel related Christmas presents.Sarah also tells us how to get the best value on your baggage and more Hit Play on this page to listen now

The new season of the Investec Champions Cup gets underway this weekend with Munster facing a tough test away to Bath and Leinster hosting Harlequins.Elsewhere, Rassie Erasmus has signed a new long term contract with South Africa which will see him stay on as head coach of the Springboks until the 2031 World Cup.Meanwhile, South African second-row Eben Etzebeth has been hit with a twelve-game ban for eye-gouging against Wales last weekend, but did the punishment fit the crime?Paul Wallace speaks to Matt ahead of the weekend's fixtures.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the chat.

This week on The Week Trending Matt is joined by Journalist Marion McKeone and Broadcaster Cathal Mullaney to talk about the weeks biggest trending stories.They discuss the launch of Fifa's inaugural peace prize at the World Cup draw and much more Hit Play on this page to listen now

The Last Word is beginning its countdown to Christmas and Judith Boyle, Beverages Lecturer at TU Dublin, joins Matt to showcase the best whiskeys and poitín to enjoy throughout December.Judith has a range of drinks at various price points. So whether you're looking for something more affordable or want to splash out over the festive period, she's got you covered.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the piece.

Australia is set to ban all under 16s from using social media from next week but should Ireland follow suit? Matt is joined by Chief Executive of CyberSafeKids Alex Cooney and Chair of the Consultants Committee of the IMO & Consultant Psychiatrist at the Mater Hospital Professor Matthew Sadlier to discussHit play on this page to listen now

There have been numerous incidents of anti-social behaviour and vandalism in parks around Dublin this year with calls for greater presence of guards and other measures to tackle the issue.Matt is joined by Dublin City Council's Chair of Planning and Urban Regeneration committee Cian Farrell and Criminologist Trina O'Connor to discuss.Hit play on this page to listen now

If you're thinking of upgrading your TV or introducing a soundbar into your living room, The Last Word's tech expert Andy O'Donoghue has all the best tips and tricks for what to look for.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to listen to his chat with Matt.

Former Munster and Ireland international rugby player Donncha O'Callaghan is this weeks Culture Club.Matt hears all about his new children's book Disaster Dad: Fun Day Fiasco and his Culture Club picks.Hit Play on this page to listen now

Comedian, podcaster and television personality Jarlath Regan sits down with Matt to discuss his new book The Gobshite Guidebook: A Survival Manual.They talk the best ways to deal with the gobshites you encounter in life.Hit Play on this page to listen now.

63% of young people come across extremist views online, compared to just 6% in real life, according to a new study from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office.Dr Darragh McCashin, from DCU's Anti-Bullying centre, and Noeline Blackwell, online safety coordinator with the Children’s Rights Alliance, join The Last Word to discuss the survey which also found that boys are perceived to be more likely to express extreme views and that sentiment around a return to so-called ‘traditional’ gender roles is gaining tractionCatch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with The Independent, discusses the findings of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission survey on Christmas spending, including statistics on who hasn't used last year's vouchers and also how much people intend to spend this year.Charlie also looks at the rise in people taking out health insurance cover despite price increases.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Dee Reddy and John Caddell discuss the latest music news including the first acts announced for Electric Picnic 2026, Daniel O'Donnell's planned sabbatical, and they have their music picks of the week.To catch the full conversation, press the play button on this page.

The Trump administration is under pressure for answers about military strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats, after a report alleged that United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an order to "kill everybody" onboard.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!

Acclaimed author and screenwriter John Banville sits down with Matt to discuss his new book Venetian Vespers.They also discuss his extensive career in writingHit Play on this page to catch the full chat

This week on the Last Word on TV & Streaming Elaine Burke, Joe O'Shea and Matt discuss the death of TV presenter and architect Hugh Wallace They also discuss the forthcoming Late Late Toy Show and much moreHit Play on this page to listen now

Dublin City Council will discuss a proposal to de-name Herzog Park, named after the former Israeli president.There have also been discussions about re-naming Dublin Airport, raising questions about whether de-naming property is a good idea or indeed if naming buildings after people is a good idea at all.Matt is joined by Associate Professor of Political Science in DCU Eoin O’Malley and historian and lecturer in gender studies at UCD Dr Mary McAuliffe to discuss. Hit Play on this page to listen now

Russell Alford, co-restaurant critic with the Sunday Times and one half of the GastroGays, joins The Last Word to chat about more of his top travel destinations for those in search of great food.This time he is bringing us to Stockholm where specialties include Swedish meatballs and cardamom buns and then to Berlin for currywurst and kebabs.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Pulitzer-nominated author Timothy Gay sits down with Matt to talk about his new book Rory Land: The Up-and-Down World of Golf's Global Icon.In it he tells the story of one of golf's biggest stars off the back of his incredible sporting year. Hit Play on this page to listen now

A new investigation puts Penneys clothing to the test; the US Department of Transportation urges air travellers to dress better and be more civil; and the story of the runaway nuns.Aoife Barry, broadcaster and author, and Paddy Duffy, TV producer, join The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Actor, playwright and activist Emmet Kirwan joins Matt in studio to talk about Focus Ireland's Christmas Campaign: No Child Without a Home.Along with being an ambassador for that this Christmas he is also starring in the The Gate theatre's production of A Christmas CarolHit Play on this page to catch the full chat now

Ireland's birth rate has fallen by 20% in just 11 years according a new report from the HSE which shows 53,185 babies were born last year compared to 67,263 in 2014.Dr Carmel Hannan, associate professor in the Department of Sociology at University of Limerick, and Dan O’Brien, chief economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs, join The Last Word to discuss why birth rates continue to fall and what economic and social challenges are created by this.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Two years ago, author and academic Dr Katriona O'Sullivan won Biography of the year and Last Word Listeners' Choice at the An Post Irish Book Awards.She talks to Matt about the impact of winning the awards, her best selling book Poor and its follow-up Hungry, to be released in 2026.Dr O'Sullivan also spoke about her new role, heading up the National Centre For Inclusive Higher Education at Maynooth University.Press the ‘play’ button on this page to catch the full conversation.

John Gibbons joins The Last Word to give his assessment of this year's United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Following on from The Last Word Gadget Show, Andy O'Donoghue runs through an A to Z of his best Black Friday and Christmas gifting ideas, from smart luggage to e-readers and smart scales.To catch the full conversation and Andy's best recommendations, press the 'play' button on this page.

Ed Smith joins Matt and Andy O'Donoghue to review the best gadgets available to children and families this Christmas.From robot dogs to DJ sets, Ed's got something for everyone.The Last Word's Gadget Show is with thanks to Currys and all products can be found on www.currys.ie.

Matt and Andy O'Donoghue are joined by broadcaster Fionnuala Jones and she gives her thoughts on the Nintendo Switch 2, the PS5 Digital Edition and laptops which are available via Currys.ie.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear her reviews.The Last Word's Gadget Show is with thanks to Currys.

Matt speaks to 98FM's Cathal O'Sullivan and SPIN 1038 Presenter Faye Shortt after they spent the week testing fitness and sound gadgets.From speakers and headphones to fitness watches and ice baths, hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear what they thought of all their choices.The Last Word's Gadget Show is with thanks to Currys.

Today FM Lunchtime presenter Louise Cantillon joins The Last Word to chat about the health and beauty tech that she has been testing for the Gadget Show. From an LED face mask to the Dyson airwrap – press ‘Play’ to hear Louise review all of the gadgets!Products can be found on currys.ie.

As part of The Last Word’s Gadget Show, Russell Alford, 98fm producer and one-half of the GastroGays, has been trying out some incredible food and drink tech including a toaster that makes the perfect toastie, an air fryer for larger families and an at home beer tap.Russell joins Matt and tech journalist Andy O’Donoghue to give his review of all the products he tested.Catch the full chat by pressing the ‘Play’ button on this page!Products can be found on currys.ie.

The Last Word Gadget Show is back! Kicking it off, tech journalists Andy O’Donoghue and Elaine Burke join Matt to review the incredible products that they have been testing including the Meta Ray-ban glasses, an affordable smartphone and a record player.Catch the full chat by pressing the ‘Play’ button on this page!Products can be found on currys.ie.

The White House said on Tuesday that the United States has made “tremendous progress" towards ending the war in Ukraine but further talks are required.Marion McKeone and Cal Thomas join The Last Word to discuss President Donald Trump's renewed push for a peace deal and more of the latest news from the US.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The Last Word is continuing its series exploring the issues faced by commuters travelling to Ireland's cities and this time the focus is on Waterford. Donnchadh Mulcahy, Sinn Fein councillor for Lismore, Sadhbh O’Neill, climate and environmental researcher and Irish Times contributor, and Éadaoin Carrick, president of Waterford Chamber of Commerce, join The Last Word to discuss Waterford's transport and congestion challenges.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The government is often unable to track public spending due to fears it would break GDPR rules leading to issues with finding just where money is goingPolitical Editor at the Irish Daily Mail Craig Hughes joins Daniel McConnell to explain more.Hit Play on this page to listen now

Legendary novelist and presenter Richard Osman joins Matt in studio to talk about his New Book The Impossible Fortune, the latest in the bestselling Thursday Murder Club Mystery series.They also discuss his career, including as a presenter including on Pointless and his podcast alongside Journalist Marina Hyde; The Rest is Entertainment. Hit Play on this page to listen now.

In the fourth instalment of The Last Word’s series on the delays people face on their daily commutes in Ireland, we look at one of the country's busiest cities: Cork.Matt chats to Director of Public Affairs and International Affairs at Cork Chamber, Cathal McSweeney, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South Central Seamus McGrath and Opinion Editor at the Irish Examiner Deirdre O’Shaughnessy.Hit Play on this page to listen now.

The United States and Ukraine are working on a 'refined' peace plan, aimed at bringing an end to Russia's war, after a leaked US-backed document was criticised for being pro-Russia.Journalist Lara Marlowe joins The Last Word to discuss what is on the cards in the latest peace talks.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Troy Parrott's hattrick in Hungary has kept Ireland's World Cup dream alive but fans will have to fork out a lot of cash if they want to see the Boys In Green take on Czechia in Prague.Lorcan Nyhan, head of training at the Communications Clinic, and Elaine Burke, host of For Tech’s Sake podcast, join The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The Last Word continues to look at the difficulties people face on their daily commutes around Ireland.Having already discussed the issues in Galway and its surrounding areas, Friday's focus turns to Dublin.Matt spoke to transport commentator Conor Faughnan, Green Party councillor Janet Horner and Mary Rose Burke, Chief Executive of Dublin Chamber of Commerce.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the conversation.