The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Hoteliers React To Minister's Claim They Are "Robbing People" Around Big Events

05 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Minister for Arts, Culture and Sport Patrick O'Donovan has accused hoteliers of "robbing people up to their eyeballs" and has warned the industry that...

Farage Compares UK to North Korea Over Arrest Of Linehan

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nick Ferrari, Presenter of Nick Ferrari At Breakfast on LBC, discussed the arrest of writer Graham Linehan on suspicion of inciting violence with X po...

What’s The Best Fitness Tech For Me?

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tech journalist Andy O’Donoghue joined Matt on Thursday’s The Last Word to talk through all the best health and fitness tech that’s on the marke...

The Last Word On The Environment: Is The Colour Of Your Car Harming Your Neighbourhood?

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New research has found that dark coloured cars can make streets noticeably hotter and that the effect, when multiplied, can shift air temperatures in ...

Culture Club: Myles O'Reilly

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Myles O'Reilly, musician and filmmaker, spoke to Matt about working with President Michael D Higgins on his spoken-word album, Against All Certainty....

Government Commits To More Public Sector Posts For People With Disabilities

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, outlined the newly launched National Human Rights Strategy For Disabled People 2025-2030....

One Third Of Irish Women Don’t Have Retirement Savings

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Research conducted by the Irish-owned network of financial advisers Ask Acorn has found that the average Irish woman’s pension pot is 40% lower than...

The Last Word On The US: Why Are Rumours Flying About Donald Trump's Health?

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss the latest news from the United States, including swirling rumours about Donald Trump's he...

Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher On Why He Wants To Be Fianna Fáil’s Presidential Candidate

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s looking increasingly likely that there will be a contest within Fianna Fáil ahead of the presidential election as both MEP Billy Kelleher and ...

Irish Actor Cunningham On Support For Gaza Peace Flotilla

01 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Irish actor Liam Cunningham joined Matt as he returned to Ireland from Barcelona where he supported the launch of the Global Sumud Flotilla of 50 vess...

The Last Word On Travel: Best Destinations For A Winter Break In The Sun

01 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to discuss the best holiday destinations for those looking for some winter sun.Catch the fu...

The Week Trending: Radio Reshuffle, RIP.ie for pets, Ryanair Oversize Baggage Incentives

29 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Pat Kenny is moving to the weekends on Newstalk and Claire Byrne is taking his morning slot.Jim Gavin is to seek the Fianna Fáil Presidential nominat...

New Tax On Parcels Sent To The US Comes Into Effect - What Does It Mean For Irish Senders?

29 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A new import tax on small packages sent to the United States has come into effect which means that people in the US who receive packages worth over €...

A 20 Year Odyssey Tracking Dolphins In Ireland

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Irish filmmaker and undersea cameraman Ken O'Sullivan has spent the last two decades documenting the lives of dolphins off the coast of Ireland.He joi...

3 Games Into The New Season, Is Ruben Amorim's Job At Manchester United On The Line Already?

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Manchester United's woes continued on Wednesday night after League Two side Grimsby Town knocked Ruben Amorim's side out of the Carabao Cup.After a de...

The Last Word on the Environment: Asian Hornets in Ireland and Climate Change Worsening Wildfires

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week on The Last Word on the Environment Matt is joined by founder and editor of ClimateChange.ie John Gibbons to discuss the week's biggest envi...

Tech Thursday: Google Releases New Pixel Phones With Uncanny AI Features

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to discuss the latest range of Google Pixel phones which include some extraordinary new features powered by artifi...

Culture Club: Róise Goan

27 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Róise Goan, CEO and Artistic Director of the Dublin Theatre Festival was the latest inductee into the Culture Club where she discussed her favourite ...

Beauty Influencers as Dangerous for Young Women as Andrew Tate for Young Men

27 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Chair of the Consultants’ Committee of the Irish Medical Council Professor Matthew Sadlier has warned that beauty influencers pushing products and u...

What does another Increase in CAO Points mean for Students?

27 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

College course points have increased once again across all the major universities. With the first round of CAO offers out today, just over 50% of stud...

Personal Finance: Why it's important to Challenge your Insurer on your Premiums

27 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent Charlie Weston is back with Matt to discuss all your finance queriesOn this week Charlie talks us t...

Last Word On Music: Electric Picnic Preview

27 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dee Reddy and Dave Hanratty had the latest music news including the engagement of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.They had an extensive preview of the b...

The Last Word On The US: Trump order Removal of the Federal Reserve Governor,

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's The Last Word on the US, Will O'Callaghan talks to Marion McKeone and Cal Thomas about President Donald Trump's new order to remove the...

Former EU Officials Urge Action Against Israel over Gaza

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

206 former EU and national ambassadors and former senior EU officials, have signed a letter urging the EU to take action against Israel over the viole...

The Last Word on Business with Ian Guider

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Business Post's Ian Guider joins Will O'Callaghan to discuss the latest Business News.On this episode they discuss the government's newly announce...

Presidential Election: Jim Gavin's Name Enters the Ring

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Former Dublin GAA manager Jim Gavin, who led Dublin to a historic five in a row, is the latest speculated candidate in the presidential election.With ...

Best Travel Deals For A Winter Break

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Slattery from TheTravelExpert.ie returned to The Last Word on Monday to highlight some of the best travel deals available to you if you're plann...

Musician Gary Numan reflects on his almost 50 year career

22 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Pioneer of electronic music Gary Numan spoke to Matt about his extensive career in music and his new tour for the 45th anniversary of his album Teleko...

The Week Trending: Trump is a Grass Expert, Zuckerberg Takes Over Palo Alto & Denmark abolishes VAT on books

22 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump claims that he is a grass expert as the owner of several golf courses, Mark Zuckerberg has been buying up houses in Palo Alto for triple ...

Could this be the most controversial set of Leaving Cert results in history?

22 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The class of 2025 has been awarded fewer top grades as grade deflation is introduced for the first time since the 2020 inflation.The proportion of H1s...

The Last Word On The Environment: More than 40,000 Fish Killed in River Blackwater in Cork

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Joining Matt this week for The Last Word On The Environment is Environmental and Climate Change Researcher Sadhbh O’Neill.They discuss the more than...

Brian Carroll's New Book Reveals More Details about the Murder of Jason Corbett

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Co-producer of the Netflix documentary on the same case, Brian Carroll sits down with Matt to discuss his new book A Deadly Marriage.In his book he re...

Families Need Responsiveness Says Health Minister

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health, spoke to Matt about the roll out of the RSV immunisation programme for children.The minister also addr...

Tech Thursday: Best in Back to College Tech

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Andy O'Donoghue joins Matt to run through all of the Back to College Tech essentials and chats about the best practice for AI use by students.Hit Play...

Culture Club: Frank Blake

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Actor Frank Blake is the latest guest to be inducted into the Culture Club!He joins The Last Word to discuss his favourite music, movies, TV and more....

Nicola Sturgeon On Life After Politics

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon joined Matt to discuss life after politics, her hopes for an independent Scotland, her meetings with Queen Eliza...

Over-50s Most Likely Cohort To Be In Debt In Ireland

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New figures have shown that people aged over 50 are the biggest group seeking personal insolvency solutions in Ireland.Mitchell O’Brien of IRS Irela...

Why Is Ireland Not Considered A "Truly Rich" Country?

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ireland didn't make the cut for the annual ranking of the world's richest countries published by The Economist magazine because it is not "truly rich"...

The Last Word On The US: Coalition Of The Willing Go On White House Charm Offensive

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

European leaders went on the charm offensive in their visit to the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as they sought to ensure t...

Downing Street Warns Sally Rooney She Could Face Prosecution If She Supports Palestine Action

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Award-winning Irish author Sally Rooney has said she would donate her earnings from her books to support Palestine Action, with Downing Street warning...

The Last Word On Travel: Sri Lanka

18 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With incredible wildlife, mesmerising culture and stunning white sand beaches, Sri Lanka has so much to offer. Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie ...

Strictly Come Dancing 2025 Lineup Revealed

18 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The lineup for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing has been revealed, which features former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Game of Thrones actor ...

Oasis Live ’25 Tour Leaves Irish Fans Feeling Euphoric

18 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Oasis brought the house down over the weekend with two unforgettable gigs at Croke Park.Fans basked in the sunshine on Saturday and Sunday as the Gall...

Premier League Season Preview

15 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The new season of the Premier League kicks off on Friday night as current holders Liverpool play host to Bournemouth at Anfield.Can Arne Slot's side w...

The Week Trending: Child Free Zones; Sylvanian Drama & Should The President Be Fluent In Irish?

15 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tennis star Emma Raducanu's request for a crying child to be removed during her match sparks debate about child free zones; Sylvanian toymaker drops i...

Best In Back To School Tech

15 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Andy O'Donoghue was back to give his rundown of the very best in back to school tech, from laptops, to iPads, and reusable notebooks.To catch the full...

Epstein Sold Prince Andrew's Secrets, Claims New Book

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

An explosive new book about the House of York includes revelations about Prince Andrew's links to the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and physical fights...

Row Over Air Conditioning Breaks Out In France As Heatwave Continues Across Europe

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Temperatures have continued to soar across Europe, with parts of Paris experiencing 39 degrees Celsius this week.Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said t...

Oasis Return To Ireland For The First Time In 16 Years This Weekend

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The biggest gigs of 2025 are almost here as thousands of fans look set to descend on Croke Park to see Oasis.It will be the first time Noel & Liam...

AI Startup Makes €34.5bn Bid For Google Chrome

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI has made a longshot €34.5 billion bid for the world's most popular web browser, Google Chrome.Brian Ca...

Culture Club: Marion O'Dwyer

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ahead of the Gaiety production of The Secrets of Primrose Square, actor Marion O'Dwyer was our latest inductee in the Culture Club where she discussed...

Mortgage Lenders Accused Of Banking On Apathy To Charge High Interest Rates

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

According to the latest Irish Independent Doddl.ie Mortgage Switching Index, up to 100,000 mortgage holders in Ireland are overpaying on their home lo...

The Last Word On The US: Trump Calls In National Guard To Tackle 'Wave Of Lawlessness' In Washington

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

US National Guard troops are arriving in Washington DC on the order of President Donald Trump who has declared a "public safety emergency" in the city...

Former IDF Soldier Says Israel's Actions In Gaza Amount To Genocide

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many have described Israel's offensive in Gaza over the last 22 months as genocide, something which the Israeli government has strenuously pushed back...

Why Can’t The Irish Diaspora Vote In Presidential Elections?

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In June, Sinn Féin tabled a motion which sought extend presidential voting rights to Irish citizens in Northern Ireland and abroad.At the moment, onl...

Pension Auto-Enrolment: What’s In It For Me?

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The new Pension Automatic Enrolment (AE), which is now called the ‘My Future Fund’, is due to arrive in January 2026. So, what’s the criteria fo...

The Last Word On Travel: The Maldives

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Turquoise water, white sand beaches and incredible sea life - Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to discuss travel to the Mald...

Rise In Number Of People Entering Relationships With AI Chatbots

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A recent survey carried out on behalf of Pure Telecom has found that almost 10% of adults in Ireland have had a romantic relationship with an AI chatb...

The Week Trending: Ryan Tubridy Repays €150k To RTÉ, Fox News Reports On 'Dangerous' Dublin & AI Chatbot Romances

08 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Broadcaster Ryan Tubridy repays €150,000 sum that was at the centre of the RTÉ payments scandal, Fox News reports on 'dangerous' Dublin but the sta...

Civilians In Gaza "Feel Like A Chess Piece In A Deadly Game" - Israel To Take Control Of Gaza City

08 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Israel's political security cabinet has approved a plan to take control of Gaza City, marking a further escalation in the almost two-year offensive in...

Donald Trump Calls For Intel Chief To Resign

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

US President Donald Trump has called for Lip-Bu Tan, the newly appointed Chief Executive of Intel, to resign.Posting on his social media platform Trut...

Tech Thursday: Upgrading Your Home Office

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From smart desks to wireless charging mats and docking stations, Andy O’Donoghue ran through the best tech for maximising your home office space.To ...

Emissions From Amazon, Meta, Alphabet and Microsoft Increase By 150%

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Research conducted by the United Nations has shown that indirect carbon emissions from some of the world’s biggest tech firms rose dramatically betw...

Culture Club: Gary O’Hanlon

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Gary O’Hanlon, Executive Chef at the K Club and co-host of the ‘Dishing It Out’ podcast was the latest entry into The Last Word’s Culture Club...

Was Daniel O'Connell Ireland's Greatest Ever Politician?

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of 'The Liberator' Daniel O'Connell, perhaps Ireland's greatest ever politician.Mick Clifford, special ...

Renters Believe Government Should Support Intergenerational Living

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Revenue has contacted 68,000 pensioners over their tax obligations in relation to their occupational pension.Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor w...

Are Self-Driving Cars The Future Of Transport?

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Professor Brian Caulfield from the Department of Civil Engineering in Trinity College Dublin and tech journalist Elaine Burke join The Last Word to di...

The Last Word On The US: Trump Fires Statistics Chief Claiming Jobs Numbers Were 'Rigged'

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

US President Donald Trump has fired the head of the main agency for producing American jobs figures claiming she "rigged" weaker-than-expected employm...

Benjamin Netanyahu Could Authorise Complete Occupation Of Gaza

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may authorise a complete occupation of Gaza, according to reports. Chief International Correspondent at The ...

Gaelic Football: More New Rules On The Way After Successful Championship Of Change

01 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

More changes could be on the way for Gaelic football following an entertaining inter-county season marked by a number of new rules.Michael Foley, spor...

Gardai Assigned To Roads Policing ‘Openly Hostile’ To Doing Their Job, Report Finds

01 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Out-going Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has said he plans to publish The Crowe Report into roads policing. The report was commissioned following the ...

Conor McGregor Loses Civil Rape Case Appeal

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On Thursday, Conor McGregor lost his appeal against a High Court jury’s finding that he raped Nikita Hand in Dublin in 2018.In November 2024, the ju...

Tech Thursday: How To Optimise Your Home WiFi

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This Tech Thursday, Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to discuss how you can upgrade and optimise your home WiFi. Catch the full chat by pressing th...

Has The Pedestrianisation Of Dublin City Worked?

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There have been calls for several streets in Dublin city to be pedestrianised over the last number of years, but does that lead to certain parts of th...

Culture Club: Jennifer Zamparelli

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Actor, broadcaster and entrepreneur Jennifer Zamparelli spoke to Matt about her upcoming role as narrator of the iconic Rocky Horror Show with Jason D...

Tourism Numbers Fall Again In June, CSO Figures Show

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The number of foreign visitors to Ireland in June fell by 2% compared to last year, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office.The de...

5 Men Jailed For Horrific Attack And Torture Of Woman In Dublin Last Year

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Five men who tortured a woman for three hours in Dublin last year have been jailed for between 8 and a half and 14 years.Natalie Ennis was abducted du...

The Last Word On Music: All Together Now Takes Place This Weekend

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

All Together Now 2025 takes place at the Curraghmore Estate in Co. Waterford this weekend, with a host of huge acts set to take to the stage across th...

The Last Word On The US: Trump Acknowledges 'Real Starvation' In Gaza, But Will Israel Listen?

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump has acknowledged for the first time that there is “real starvation” in Gaza and has told Israel to allow “every ounce of food” in...

Will Of Freddie Scappaticci To Be Sealed For 70 Years

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The will of the man believed to be Britain’s top agent inside the IRA will not be made public after the British High Court ruled that it should be s...

The Last Word On TV & Streaming: South Park Takes On Donald Trump

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Elaine Burke and Joe O'Shea join The Last Word to discuss the latest news in TV and streaming including South Park's Donald Trump episode and the deat...

Kerry Crowned All Ireland Champions

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Marc O Sé, Eamonn McGee, Ray Silke and Will O'Callaghan review the All-Ireland football final which saw Kerry dominate from the start and beat Donega...

The Last Word On Travel: Train Travel In Europe

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Travel journalist Ed Finn joins The Last Word to discuss the appeal of train travel and the best routes in Europe. Catch the full chat by pressing the...

Essential Workers Are Being Priced Out Of Commuter Towns

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New analysis has found that a nurse and a garda with a combined salary of €107,000 would be unable to afford a 3-bed semi-detached house in a number...

All-Ireland Senior Football Final 2025 Preview: Donegal vs Kerry

25 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On Sunday, Donegal will face Kerry in the All-Ireland Senior Football Football Final at Croke Park.After such an exciting Gaelic football season under...

The Week Trending: Michael Flatley's Bid For President, Irish Stereotypes, & BBC Says It Did Not Cut Irish From CMAT Song

25 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Riverdance star Michael Flatley is to seek nomination to become Ireland's next president, Hollywood's Irish stereotypes, and the BBC says it did not e...

CNN’s John King On Trump’s Presidency, Freedom Of Speech & The Epstein Files

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On Thursday, Matt spoke to CNN anchor and Chief National Correspondent John King ahead of his appearance in Dublin’s National Concert Hall and the T...

Why Are Companies Demanding Staff Return To The Office?

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A decision by AIB to require staff eligible for hybrid working to return to the office at least three days a week has sparked outrage amongst many of ...

Tech Thursday: The Best Travel Tech Part 2

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From power bars, to water bottles and anti-theft backpacks, Andy O’Donoghue continues his run down of the best gadgets to make travel at home or abr...

Culture Club: Rossa Ó Snodaigh

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rossa Ó Snodaigh, multi-instrumentalist with KÍLA talks to Matt about the new album, Raise The Road, and all his cultural influences from music, to ...

From Black Sabbath To Reality TV Fame - Remembering Ozzy Osbourne

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne has died aged 76.John Caddell joins The Last Word to pay tribute to a man who was at the forefront of the heavy m...

Irish Drivers Spend Over €10k Per Year To Keep Their Car On The Road

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New research from Outsurance has found that the average Irish driver will spend €10,373 to keep their car on the road this year. This can include fu...

AIB Staff Required To Return To Office For Minimum Of 3 Days A Week

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Financial Services Union has said that the changes to AIB’s hybrid working policy are “regressive” and “shortsighted”.The company has to...

Government Unveils €276bn Revised National Development Plan For The Next 10 Years

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Jack Chambers joins The Last Word to discuss the Government's revised National Development Plan which aims ...

The Last Word On The US: "Go F*** Yourself" Colbert Tells Trump

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The US House of Representatives will begin its summer recess early to avoid votes related to the Jeffrey Epstein files and late-night host Stephen Col...

Tipperary Crowned All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions For 2025

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tipperary were crowned All-Ireland senior hurling champions on Sunday after a stunning second half display against Cork.Liam Cahill's side held Cork t...

The Last Word On The US: Why Trump's Epstein Problem Just Won't Go Away

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A recent newspaper report claims that US President Donald Trump wrote a 'bawdy' letter to his one-time-friend Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday.Th...

Why Have New Home Commencements Fallen Off A Cliff?

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Only 6,235 commencement notices were issued in the first six months of this year, according to Department of Housing figures.This is compared to 34,58...

The Salt Path: Journalist On Her Bombshell Investigation Into The Hit Memoir

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

'The Salt Path' is a memoir that captured the hearts of millions before being adapted into a movie starring Gillian Andrews and Jason Isaacs.But quest...

Is The Cost Of Living Contributing To Declining Numbers In Restaurants?

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A Dublin restauranteur has said that the cost of living is the reason for a noticeable drop in the number of people dining in Dublin restaurants.Renow...