The Last Word with Matt Cooper

The Week Trending

04 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Roe McDermott, Irish Times advice columnist and movies editor with Hot Press and special correspondent with the Irish Examiner, Mick Clifford, discuss...

Fifa Asks Teams To Focus On Football Ahead Of Qatar Kickoff

04 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Fifa have written to the teams competing in the World Cup asking them to focus on the football in Qatar and not allow the game “to be dragged into e...

The Last Word On Movies : Watcher And The Wonder

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On The Last Word on Movies Roe McDermott and Brian Lloyd discuss this week’s biggest movie releases. These include Watcher, The Wonder and the lates...

IRFU To Look Into No-Drink Zones At Rugby Internationals

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ahead of the Autumn International series at the Aviva, the IRFU has plans to contact ticket holders to remind them to be respectful to fellow patrons....

Sideline Manners - Parents In The UK Told Not To Cheer On Kids

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Recent incidents on the side-lines of children’s sports have led to calls for a ‘zero tolerance’ policy on abuse of officials and players. In th...

The Last Word On Health : Glaucoma

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Glaucoma is a slowly progressive illness and the leading cause of blindness in the developed world. Dr Brian Higgins outlines the causes of glaucoma a...

How Will Ireland's Ageing Priest Population Affect Congregations?

02 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Fr. Tim Hazelwood from the Association of Catholic Priests and theologian Gina Menzies joined The Last Word to discuss the survey from the Association...

How Bad Could The Winter Get In Our Hospitals?

02 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Fergal Hickey, president of the Irish Association of Emergency Medicine joined The Last Word to discuss hospital waiting lists, staff shortages and de...

The Last Word On Travel : Christmas Breaks In Ireland

02 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Looking for a Christmas or New Year's break? Sarah Slattery from travelexpert.ie joined The Last Word to discuss the best Irish hotel deals for Christ...

Book - Playing Under The Piano : From Downton To Darkest Peru

01 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Bonneville, actor and author speaks on the ups and downs of career which has seen him star in Downton Abbey, Nothing Hill and Paddington. Catch ...

Last Word On Music : Adele Sets Record For Las Vegas Ticket Prices

01 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dee Reddy and Dave Hanratty discuss all the latest music news and releases, including Adele commanding £40,000 for tickets to her Las Vegas gigs. Ca...

US With Cal And Marion : Suspect Charged Over Paul Pelosi Attack

01 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated columnist, and Marion McKeone of the Business Post discuss the assault on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband ...

Kellie Harrington's Journey To Olympic Gold

01 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Boxer and Olympic Gold medalist Kellie Harrington and author Roddy Doyle discuss collaborating on “Kellie”, which tells the story of the boxer’s...

Book - Cheers Geoff : Tales From The Touch Line

28 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Geoff Shreeves is a giant of football and in his memoir 'Cheers Geoff', he shares hilarious, bizarre and moving stories from across his career. Catch...

How Might Twitter Change With Elon Musk In Charge

28 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Elon Musk has completed his $44m takeover of Twitter after months of speculation over the deal. Jenny Darmody, Deputy Editor at Silicon Republic, cons...

The Week Trending

28 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today FM presenter Pamela Joyce and Mark Paul, Business columnist with the Irish Times discussed some of the other stories making headlines this week,...

Decommissioned Cars Over The Years

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ford have announced that the Fiesta has reached the end of the road. First introduced in 1997, the Fiesta has had many different models and was a go-...

From Book To Screen : Emma Donoghue On 'The Wonder'

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Emma Donoghue is the writer of the new movie 'The Wonder' coming to Netflix in November and starring Florence Pugh. The film is based on Emma's book ...

Should Music Fans Boycott Kanye West After His Anti-Semitic Comments?

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Recent anti-Semitic remarks made by rapper Kanye West have caused deep upset and have received widespread condemnation from celebrities, global corpor...

The Last Word On The Environment : Levels Of All Three Greenhouse Gases Hit Record High

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The World Meteorological Organisation has found there is now more planet-warming carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen in the atmosphere than at any ti...

Ian McKinley - Second Sight : Rugby And Redemption

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In his new book, Ian McKinley explores how a catastrophic eye injury derailed his career and his path back to international rugby stardom. He joined...

General Practice At Crisis Point

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There is a workforce and workload crisis in general practice in Ireland and as a result qualified doctors are moving abroad or finding other work. Th...

Teacher Shortage Sees Some Secondary Schools Unable To Fill Posts

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A study from the Teachers' Union of Ireland has revealed that nine in ten secondary schools have struggled to fill vacant teaching posts in the last s...

US With Cal And Marion : Russian Court Rejects Brittney Griner Appeal

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A Russian court has rejected an appeal by the US basketball player Brittney Griner against her nine-year prison sentence for possession of drugs. Cal...

Richard E Grant : A Pocketful Of Happiness

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When Richard's beloved wife Joan died in 2021 after almost four decades of marriage, she set him a challenge: to find a pocketful of happiness in ever...

The Last Word On Music : Arctic Monkeys & Taylor Swift Album Reviews

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This weekend saw Taylor Swift and Arctic Monkeys battle it out on the charts following the release of their new records. What do John Caddell and De...

Obesity Now Recognised As A Disease Instead Of Lifestyle Illness

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

New treatment guidelines that redefine obesity care have been launched with the support of doctors, patient groups and the HSE. The guidelines move ...

Interview With Zak Moradi - Life Begins In Leitrim : From Kurdistan To Croke Park

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

‘Life Begins In Leitrim : From Kurdistan to Croke Park’ is Zak Moradi’s autobiography. The former intercounty hurler tells his story of being ...

TV & Streaming : Netflix's 'The Crown' To Get 'Fictionalised' Disclaimer

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Due to the nature of it's storytelling, Netflix's hit show The Crown will now carry a 'fictionalised' disclaimer. Joe O'Shea and Elaine Burke joined ...

Richard Harris Archive Given To UCC

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

University College Cork will take on the archive of the late actor Richard Harris. The Limerick born actor was one of the first great Irish movie su...

The Last Word On Travel : Malaga

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Malaga airport is frequented by millions of international visitors each year, but most use it as a gateway to stay in beach resorts on the Costa del S...

Last Word On The Environment : Calls For Government To Reconsider Nuclear Energy Ban

21 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Given the extent of the current climate and energy crisis, Engineers Ireland have called on the Government to reconsider the legislative ban on genera...

Liz Truss Resigns As UK Prime Minister

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After just 45 days in Number 10, Liz Truss has stepped down - becoming the shortest-serving prime minister in UK history. What happened in the 24 ho...

The Last Word On Health : Signs Of Perimenopause

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week is Menopause Awareness Week - the first ever in Ireland. To mark the occasion, we discuss the signs and symptoms of perimenopause with Dr ...

An Post Book Awards Short Listings

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With the An Post Irish Book Awards 2022 drawing closer, we are delighted to announce the shortlists for Eason Novel of the Year and Eason Sportsbook o...

Interview : Tommie Gorman

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist and author Tommie Gorman discusses his new book ‘Never Better: My Life In Our Times’. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' butto...

Would Less Dogs Be Surrendered If Ireland Was More Pet Friendly?

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

More than 50% of people believe that companies with a pet-friendly policy are a more attractive place to work and 27% say it would influence their cho...

Personal Finance : Changes To Mortgage Lending Rates

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Charlie Weston, personal finance editor with the Irish Independent, and Michael Dowling, managing director of Dowling Financial explain what the Centr...

Government Approves Winter Eviction Ban

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Cabinet has signed off on a winter eviction ban which is expected to run from November until the end of March. How is it going to work and what does...

Tech Tuesday : Meta VR Headsets To Track Eye Movements

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Andy O’Donoghue, tech journalist, outlines how Meta’s latest technology will track eye movements of users and why this raises privacy issues. Ca...

US With Cal And Marion : Kevin Spacey Denies Sex Abuse Claim During Testimony

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated columnist and Marion McKeone, US Correspondent with the Business Post discuss the latest news from the US, including...

Last Word On Music : Arctic Monkeys And Taylor Swift Are Both Set To Release New Albums This Friday

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Arctic Monkeys and Taylor Swift will go head-to-head in the charts this week as they both release new albums. ‘The Car’ by Arctic Monkeys will b...

Can Liverpool's Victory Over City At Anfield Kickstart Their Season?

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Liverpool secured an impressive 1-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday which has left Guardiola's side four points behind Premier League leaders Arsen...

Pathfinder Programme Aimed At Bringing More Public Transport To Towns And Villages Launched

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Thirty-five projects aimed to increase the use of public transport, cycling and walking have been launched by the Government. Transport Minister Eam...

TV & Streaming : Actor Robbie Coltrane Remembered

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Actor Robbie Coltrane has sadly passed away at the age of 72, after an iconic and memorable career. Joe O'Shea and Elaine Burke join The Last Word to...

Jonathan Dowdall Sentenced To 4 Years

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Frank Greaney, Courts Correspondent with Today FM, has the latest on the sentencing of Jonathan Dowdall and his father Patrick Dowdall for facilitatin...

Enoch Burke's Mother Escorted From Appeal Court During Hearing

14 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The mother of jailed teacher Enoch Burke was removed from court today after interrupting proceedings. Frank Greaney joined the Last Word to discuss. ...

Liverpool Hope To Rein Manchester City In On Sunday When They Host Guardiola’s Side At Anfield

14 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's a huge match up this weekend in the Premiere League, with Liverpool playing host to Manchester City. How are Liverpool's chances looking? Mark ...

The Week Trending

14 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Climate protest at the London National Gallery, controversial football celebrations and much more on the Week Trending with Brianna Parkins and Dave H...

The Last Word On The Environment : Five Climate Myths Debunked

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to discussing climate change, everyone has an opinion! But often dangerous myths and misconceptions are thrown around. John Gibbons join...

Movies : 'Emily'

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A new biographical film about the life and times of writer Emily Brontë is being released this week starring Emma Mackey of 'Sex Education' fame. Br...

The Last Word On Health : Dry Eyes

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dry eyes are extremely common and a source of discomfort for many people. But what causes this issue and how can it be treated? Dr. Brian Higgins joi...

Ukrainian Refugees To Stay In Co. Kerry After Government Intervention

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A welcomed last minute reversal on the decision to move Ukrainian refugees from Co. Kerry to Co. Mayo has been made by the Government. Niall Kelleher...

Republic Of Ireland Apologize For Dressing Room Chant After Securing World Cup Qualification

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Apologies have been made on behalf of the Republic of Ireland women's soccer team after a video surfaced on social media containing song lyrics refere...

Personal Finance : How Will The Pension Auto-Enrolment Impact Me?

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A new pension auto-enrolment scheme is in the works for those without a private or occupational pension in place. Charlie Weston joined the Last Word ...

US With Cal And Marion : Harvey Weinstein Back In Court

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Disgraced former film producer Harvey Weinstein is back in court to face trial for multiple charges of sexual misconduct, despite currently serving a ...

The Good Drinker : How I Learned To Love Drinking Less

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Well known British television presenter Adrian Chiles joined the Last Word today to discuss his new book, 'The Good Drinker : How I Learned To Love Dr...

The Last Word On Music : Kanye's Twitter And Instagram Accounts Locked

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Kanye West has been suspended from Twitter and Instagram after the latest in a long string of controversies for the hip-hop artist and entrepreneur. ...

Tech Tuesday : AI Recruitment Tools Don't Work

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why may Artificial Intelligence used for job recruitment not be as 'intelligent' as we once thought? Andy O’Donoghue joined the Last Word to discus...

Travel : Tips For A Beginners Ski Holiday

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The idea of a first time Ski holiday can be daunting, so Sarah Slattery joined the Last Word with her best advice and recommendations for first time S...

TV And Streaming : Brendan Gleeson Hosts Saturday Night Live

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Beloved Irish actor Brendan Gleeson hosted the long running American comedy show 'SNL' over the weekend, with an appearance from popular co-star Colin...

Arsenal Remain Top Of The League After Win Over Liverpool

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Are Liverpool at crisis point after their loss to Arsenal over the weekend? Mark Lawrenson joined the Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by p...

Green Light For Auto-Enrollment Pension Scheme

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

About 750,000 people in Ireland are without a private or occupational pension, and will depend on support from the state pension. A new auto-enrollme...

Government Considering Eviction Ban Until The End Of March

08 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Many people are facing potential eviction this year due to the rise in bills, rent and other costs. Will the Government introduce an eviction ban? Pa...

The Week Trending

08 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Royal visits to Northern Ireland, and odd toilet behaviour off the coast of the republic. Edel Coffey and Damien McLoughlin joined the Last Word to d...

Arsenal Host Liverpool On Sunday And Southampton Are Next To Take On Haaland

08 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's a big weekend of Premiere League fixtures with Arsenal hosting Liverpool, and Southampton taking on Manchester City. Mark Lawrenson and Tony Ca...

Interview : Shane Ross

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What is the background story behind the polarizing figure of Mary Lou McDonald? Shane Ross joined the Last Word to discuss his new book 'Mary Lou McD...

Movies : 'Nothing Compares' - Sinead O'Connor's Rise To Fame

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A documentary about Sinead O'Connor's life and views has been released entitled 'Nothing Compares'. Brian Lloyd and Roe McDermott joined the Last Wor...

The Last Word On The Environment : Why Taxis Should Be Banned From Bus Lanes

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Should taxis be completely banned from bus lanes? John Gibbon joined the Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on ...

The Last Word On Health : Children And Constipation

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to constipation in children, what is normal and what should you keep an eye out for? Dr. Brian Higgins joined the Last Word to discuss...

Should We Alter How Rugby Is Played In Order To Improve Player Safety?

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With increasing evidence to show the risks of serious injury and neurodegenerative brain disease for rugby players, is it time we changed the game in ...

Interview : Marina Hyde

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Renowned journalist Marina Hyde joined us on the Last Word to discuss the crazy times we are living through, as well as her new book 'What Just Happen...

Personal Finance : People With Company Car Have Been Hit With 'Benefit-In-Kind' Tax Increase

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For potentially 150,000 people driving a company car, a new 'benefit-in-kind' tax has been introduced based on the amount of miles driven a year. Cha...

US With Cal And Marion : Musk In Twitter Row With Zelenskyy

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Elon Musk has landed himself in trouble with Ukraine after strange 'Trump-like' tweets. Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone joined the Last Word to discuss...

The Last Word On Music : Lindsey Buckingham Cancels Remaining Tour Dates

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Lindsey Buckingham has become the latest popular artist to cut a tour short. Zara Hedderman and John Caddell joined the Last Word to discuss. Catch ...

Tech Tuesday : Final EU Approval For Universal Charger

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

From 2024 all mobile phones in the EU will use USB-C. Andy O’Donoghue joined the Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the Play b...

Is A United Ireland Inevitable?

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As conversations on the topic become more common, is the prospect of a United Ireland becoming inevitable? Neale Richmond, Frances Black and Louise O...

City Hammer United In Manchester Derby As Arsenal Beat Spurs To Stay Top Of The League

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Was Manchester City's fantastic performance this past weekend a sign they will dominate the premiere league? Miguel Delaney joined the Last Word to ...

The Last Word On Travel : Travelling With Pets

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Taking a pet on holiday can be tricky. How can you take an animal away and ensure they are safe, happy and healthy? Sarah Slattery joined the Last Wo...

Dowdall Entering Witness Protection As He Agrees To Give Evidence

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Former Sinn Fein councilor Jonathan Dowdall was due to stand trial for murder, however his situation has changed following an agreement with the Direc...

The Last Word on Sport

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This weekend sees the return of the premier league, with North London derbies and a Manchester derby on the horizon. Tony Cascarino and Mark Lawrenso...

Deborah Somorin on Tackling Barriers for Single Parents Accessing Education

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Deborah Somorin joined The Last Word to discuss her experience being homeless at the age of 13, before going on to access third-level education and he...

The Week Trending

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One of the biggest stories of the week was the controversial statement made by Russian President Vladimir Putin following his annexation of four Ukrai...

The Last Word On Health : Gut Health

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Something we often overlook is the importance of having good gut health! But where should you start? Dr. Brian Higgins joined the Last Word to discus...

Longlist For An Post Bookshop Of The Year Is Announced

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

12 bookshops across the country have been longlisted for the ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ category at this year’s An Post Irish Book Awards, t...

The Last Word On The Environment

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With mixed reactions to budget 2023, how did environmental issues fare in the Government's spending? John Gibbons joined the Last Word to discuss. C...

Recovery From Addiction Is Tough But Achievable

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With International Recovery Day taking place tomorrow, Pauline McKeown, CEO of Coolmine Therapeutic Community and Danny Moore, former client of Coolmi...

Budget 2023 'Leaves The Poor Behind' According To Social Justice Ireland

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

According to Social Justice Ireland, the €11 billion that was spent in yesterday's budget has been distributed unfairly. Michelle Murphy, research...

Personal Finance : Listener Queries About Budget 2023 Answered

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Charlie Weston joined us this week for a personal finance special, answering your questions about Budget 2023. Catch the full chat by pressing the Pl...

Opposition Reaction To Budget 2023

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What do the opposing parties of our Government think of the choices made for Budget 2023? Ged Nash and Matt Carthy joined the Last Word to discuss. ...

Business Reaction To The Budget

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What has the reaction of businesses been like to Budget 2023? Neil McDonnell, Lisa Eccles, Paul Gallagher and Mary Conway joined the Last Word to dis...

Interview : Paschal Donohoe

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After a number of historic and unprecedented years which have affected the Irish economy massively, Paschal Donohoe joined the Last Word to discuss na...

What's In The Budget?

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today was Ireland's long awaited Budget day, but what are the details? Ian Guider, Nancy Fallon and Daniel McConnell joined the Last Word to discuss....

House Prices Stabilise

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Amongst all of the economic uncertainty, is there some good news emerging from the housing market? Karl Deeter joined the Last Word to discuss. Catc...

Why Are Chinese Police Operating From A Premises In Dublin's Capel St?

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why is a Chinese intelligence unit operating on Capel Street in Dublin, independent of the Chinese embassy? John Mooney joined the Last Word to discu...

TV And Streaming

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Only weeks after the death of Queen Elizabeth III, Netflix have announced the fifth season of their hugely popular show 'The Crown'. Joe O’Shea an...

The Last Word O n Travel : Christmas Markets

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Christmas is still a while away but if you're considering going on holiday in December, now is the time to book! Sarah Slattery joined us for The Las...

Wolf Hall Writer Hilary Mantel Dies Aged 70

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Beloved British novelist Hilary Mantel has passed away at the age of 70. Kevin Power joined the Last Word to discuss her brilliant career. Catch the ...

Far Right Expected To Win Italian Snap Election

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

An important election taking place this weekend in Italy could have far reaching economic and political consequences. Dan O’Brien joined the Last ...

The Week Trending

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One of the biggest stories of the week involved an Irish Rugby legend taking home the wrong dog from the groomers! There has been a worrying amount of...