The Last Word with Matt Cooper
Episodes
Plans To ‘Write-Off’ Some Rivers As No-Go Areas Criticised
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Environmental groups have raised concerns about plans to lower the environmental standards of hundreds of rivers across Ireland.This would mean that o...
Culture Club: Andrew Meehan
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Writer Andrew Meehan, author of Best Friends, joins The Last Word for the Culture Club. Hear all about his favourite music, movies, tv shows and more ...
What Does The Pause On US Student Visas Mean For Irish Heading To The States?
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Trump administration has suspended new visa applications for foreign students to give US embassies around the world more time to vet applicants an...
The Last Word On The US: Trump Threatens Further Sanctions On Russia As Relationship With Putin Sours
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump is considering imposing further sanctions on Russia as it continues its large scale attack on Ukraine.The US President's relationship wit...
How To Tell Your Partner, Family And Friends When Menopause Comes Early
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lorraine Keane was one of the first women to break the taboo around discussing perimenopause and menopause in Ireland.She joins The Last Word to discu...
Man City, Chelsea & Newcastle Secure Champions League Football For Next Season
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Premier League season concluded on Sunday amid huge celebrations at Anfield after Liverpool were crowned champions.With Arsenal securing their pla...
The Last Word On Travel: Las Vegas
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Slattery from the travelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to chat about all of the best things to see and do in Las Vegas. Catch the full chat by pr...
Bono: Stories Of Surrender Set For Release On Friday
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bono: Stories Of Surrender is set for release on Apple TV+ this Friday, May 30th. Directed by Andrew Dominik, the documentary received a seven-m...
The Week Trending: Dáil Laz-Y-Boys, Robot Trees, & Ireland's Norman Heritage
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
'La-Z-Boy' recliner among requests for TD's Leinster House office; controversial robot trees are removed from Cork City; and Government signs off on p...
Cost Of Building Metrolink Could Rise Further
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The latest cost estimate for building Dublin’s Metrolink was approximately €23 billion. However, could that figure now be too low?Work is set to s...
Tech Thursday: The Best Travel Gadgets From UV Trackers To Portable Espresso Makers
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wallet trackers, power banks and UV scanners, Andy O'Donoghue had a run down of the best travel tech to make planned summer trips as easy as possible....
The Last Word On The US: Trump Makes False Claims On White Genocide In South Africa
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump accused South Africa of committing white genocide as the country’s president Cyril Ramaphosa visited the Whi...
€75m Funding Needed To Prevent Post Office Closures, Union Says
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Irish Postmasters’ Union has warned that without funding of €15 million per year for the next five years, post offices around the country face...
Culture Club: Pat McCabe
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Author Pat McCabe was this week’s entry into the Culture Club as he celebrated the release of his new book ‘Golden Glove’.Hit the ‘Play’ but...
From Nights Out To Insurance Premiums, Ireland’s Young People Are Being Priced Out Of Everything
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Earlier this week, a report by Daft.ie found that the average rent in Ireland has now exceeded €2,000 a month, which is almost 50% higher than it wa...
Life After Being Cancelled
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 2018, author Jeanine Cummins published her novel American Dirt to a fanfare of praise and expectation. It didn't take long for online opinion to tu...
The Last Word on the US: Biden’s Health and Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Talks
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated columnist, and US Correspondent with The Business Post, Marion McKeone, join Matt the go through all the latest in U...
GAA: Dublin Beat Galway In Salthill, Limerick Lay Down A Marker Against Cork
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The All-Ireland Gaelic football championship sprung to life at the weekend as Dublin reminded everyone of their credentials by beating an in-form Galw...
The Last Word on TV and Streaming: Ireland Gave Israel 10 points in Eurovision Final
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joe O’Shea, Editor at Cork Beo, and Today FM’s own Alison Healy are here to give all the latest in this week’s TV and Streaming news.A curious E...
Campaign To Restrict Parental Rights For Killers
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
David French, brother of Valerie French Kilroy who was murdered by her husband James, outlines his family's campaign to have the parental rights curbe...
Have Irish Consumers Taken On Too Much Personal Debt?
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New figures released by the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland have shown that in the final quarter of 2024, almost €200m was borrowed to fund ...
The Last Word On Tech: The Best Golf Gadgets
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the US PGA gets into full swing, Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to talk about all the best new golf tech.Catch the full chat by pressing the '...
Living Near Golf Courses Increases Risk Of Getting Parkinson’s, Study Finds
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
People who live near golf courses are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease, due to pesticides used on the lawns.That’s according to a study ...
Culture Club: David Brophy
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Conductor David Brophy joins The Last Word for the Culture Club!Hear all of his favourite musical and cultural picks by pressing the 'Play' button on ...
Goldman Sacks Eyes Household's Savings As It Considers Launching Retail Bank In Ireland
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Goldman Sachs’s is considering launching its online retail bank Marcus in Ireland, a move that could give Wall Street access to billions of euros in...
Why Are Irish Teens Unhappy?
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new report from UNICEF has found that Irish teenagers are among the least happy in high-income countries despite leading in academic performance.Aib...
Cost Of Raising A Child In Ireland Rises To €169,000
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A survey by Laya Life has found that raising a child in Ireland now costs €15,000 per year, which is an increase of almost 40% in the last 10 years....
The Last Word On The US: Trump To Accept 'Palace In The Sky' Gift From Qatar
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
US President Donald Trump has claimed it would be "stupid" not to accept the gift of a free Qatari plane, described as a "palace in the sky", to repla...
Jacqueline Connolly On Her Fight For Justice For Her Sister Clodagh Hawe
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jacqueline Connolly, author of Deadly Silence, joins The Last Word to talk about her quest for justice for her sister Clodagh Hawe and her three nephe...
Calls For Pints Tax Rebate To Save Rural Pubs
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Vintners Federation of Ireland is calling on the government to introduce a 40% tax rebate in excise on pints of draught beer sold in pubs.The asso...
Gaelic Football: After 3 Fantastic Finals, Do The Provincial Football Championships Have A Future?
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The future of the provincial football finals has been a source of debate in recent years due to Dublin’s dominance in Leinster and Kerry’s in Muns...
Documentary Tells The Story Of Serial Scammer Samantha Cookes
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Earlier this year, Samantha Cookes was sentenced to three years in prison for multiple counts of theft and deception. She was found to have posed unde...
The Last Word On Travel: Utah
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Slattery from the travelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to chat all about her recent trip to Utah in the United States.Listen back by pressing the...
The Week Trending: Pope Leo XIV, Israel At Eurovision & Calls For Social Media Ban For U-16s
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Leo XIV becomes the first North American pope; RTÉ demands 'discussion' on Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest; and Tánaiste Simon...
Lorcan Finnegan On Directing Nicolas Cage
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Irish film director Lorcan Finnegan spoke to Matt about working with Nicolas Cage for his new film, the Australian set, psychodrama, The Surfer. To ca...
Tech Thursday: The Best E-Readers And Audiobook Apps
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Andy O'Donoghue previewed the best e-readers and audiobook apps for every price point!To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this ...
Personal Finance: Families Swapping Branded Groceries In Bid To Save Money
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
More families are now buying own-brand products and shopping in discount stores in order to reduce the costs of the weekly grocery shop.According to f...
How We’ve Become Slaves To Our Mobile Phones
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
‘Zombie’ traffic lights are to be installed on Tara Street in Dublin City in a bid to get people who are distracted by looking at their mobile pho...
Culture Club: Mark McCabe
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
DJ and producer Mark McCabe is the latest inductee into the Culture Club.He joined Matt to talk about ‘Maniac 2000 (25th Anniversary Edition)’, wh...
RTÉ Calls For Discussion On Israel's Participation In The Eurovision Song Contest
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
RTÉ has asked the European Broadcasting Union for a discussion on Israel's inclusion in the Eurovision Song Contest that takes place later this month...
Camogie Players Protest Over Requirement To Wear Skorts
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On Saturday, the Dublin and Kilkenny camogie teams took to the field wearing shorts ahead of their Leinster semi-final fixture, in protest against a r...
How Trump's 100% Movie Tariff Could Hit Ireland's Film Industry
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
US President Donald Trump has threatened to slap 100% tariffs on movies coming into the US that are "produced in foreign lands" in a statement that ha...
The Last Word On The US: Canadian PM Carney Meets Trump At The White House
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has met with United States President Donald Trump at the White House as he looks to reset the US-Canada relationsh...
Has The Housing Tsar Controversy Exposed A Rift In The Coalition?
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Government's plan to set up a new office to speed up home delivery has snowballed into a major issue, all while it is still scrambling to find way...
Why Are So Many Young Women Emigrating?
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The number of women emigrating from Ireland has jumped 56% since the pandemic, according to a report by the Department of Enterprise.The figures also ...
How Extreme Panic Attacks And Anxiety Impacted A Sportswriter’s Career
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sunday and Irish Independent sports columnist Eamonn Sweeney has released his latest book “The Last Ditch: How One GAA Championship Gave A Sportswri...
Tech Thursday: Best New Cycling, Running & Hiking Tech
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to talk through all the best new tech for outdoor activities. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on...
Culture Club: Louise Hegarty
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Writer Louise Hegarty is the latest inductee to the Culture Club. Following the release of the her debut novel Fair Play, a classic murder mystery wit...
The Last Word On Business: Government Defends Semi-State Executive Pay Plans
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The government has defended plans which could see chief executives of commercial semi-state bodies in line for pay increases worth tens of thousands o...
Personal Finance: High Energy Rating Can Add Over €100,000 To Price Of Second Hand Homes
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Charlie Weston, personal finance editor, Irish Independent, spoke to Matt about the implications of the carbon tax increases and also how a higher BER...
Kneecap Gig Cancelled Amid Backlash For ‘Kill MPs’ And ‘Up Hamas’ Comments
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kneecap continue to face backlash after videos from their shows resurfaced where members of the group appear to call for Conservative MPs to be killed...
The Last Word On The US: Trump's First 100 Days In Office
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Global tariffs, negotiating peace in Ukraine and an immigration crackdown are just some of the many moves made by US President Donald Trump since he r...
Gaelic Football: Meath Stun Dublin To Reach Leinster SFC Final
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Meath and Louth will contest this year’s Leinster Senior Football Final after the Royals beat Dublin at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise on Sunday.This ...
The Last Word on Travel: Seville
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Seville is a city of incredible architecture, amazing food and colourful flamenco dancing. Sinead Kennedy, host of wellness activity breaks and travel...
Union Calls for Climate Leave
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Fitzgerald, Unite Regional Coordinating officer, and Neil McDonnell, ISME Chief Executive join Matt to discuss trade union Unite's call for Climat...
Revolut To Offer Mortgages In Ireland
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Dowling, managing director of Michael Dowling Mortgage and Financial Services, and Brendan Burgess, founder of askaboutmoney.com, speculate on...
Kneecap Criticised For Pro-Palestine Chant At Coachella
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Belfast/Derry trio Kneecap have been criticised for pro-Palestinian chants during their Coachella sets, with TV personality Sharon Osbourne urging US ...
The Last Word On The Environment: Was Pope Francis An Environmentalist?
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tributes have been paid to Pope Francis, whose death was announced on Monday morning.UN climate official Simon Stiell said that the Pope was “a towe...
From Smart Taps To Robot Lawn Mowers: The Best In Garden Tech
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Andy Donoghue has his top garden gadget picks from watering systems, to lawnmowers, plant sensors, outdoor lighting and outdoor sockets.To catch the f...
Culture Club: Will Sliney
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Will Sliney, comic book artist and creator of Draw With Will, talks to Matt about his favourite music, film, TV, books and other cultural touchstones ...
Fears For Irish Jobs As Intel To Announce Plans To Cut 20% Of Global Staff
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Intel will announce plans to cut more than 20 per cent of its staff this week as part of a bid to streamline operations, according to Bloomberg news. ...
Personal Finance: Customers Paying More For Less As Health Insurers Cut Back On Benefit Plans
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Insurers are cutting benefits on health plans as they hike the price of premiums, meaning that customers are now getting less value for their money.Me...
The Last Word On The US: Donald And Melania Trump To Attend Pope Francis’s Funeral
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he and his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, will attend Pope Francis’s funeral at The Vatican on Saturda...
The Legacy Of Pope Francis
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Following the death of Pope Francis, Redemptorist priest Tony Flannery, theologian Gina Menzies and catholic commentator Breda O'Brien join The Last W...
Tech Thurs: Google Pixel 9a And Other Alternatives To iPhones
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Andy O'Donoghue reviews the best and more affordable smartphones on the market from Google, Samsung and Oneplus.
Dublin Councils Developing Plans For Tourist Tax In The Capital
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dublin's four local authorities are developing plans for a new tourist tax in the capital which they say could help fund the upkeep of the city.A work...
Acute Mental Health Patients Leaving EDs Without Appropriate Care, Report Suggests
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new report from the Mental Health Commission has said that there is an urgent need to improve mental health services at emergency departments and th...
Culture Club: Keith Donald
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Saxophonist, member of Moving Hearts, and author of Music and Mayhem, Keith Donald talks to Matt about the culture that made him, from his early music...
Pharma Giants Warn Of Investment 'Exodus' From Europe Unless There Is 'Radical Policy Change'
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pharmaceutical companies are calling for 'radical policy change' from the European Union in order to limit a potential 'exodus' of future investment i...
Personal Finance: Why Are Easter Eggs So Expensive?
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Easter eggs appear to be the latest products to be impacted by inflation, with a 200g egg now costing approximately €7.50. That’s more than double...
The Last Word On The US: Trump Blames Zelensky For Starting The War With Russia
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
US President Donald Trump has once again claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky started the war with Russia, saying "you don't start a wa...
Irish Students Heading To The States Warned Of Potential Risks Of Activism
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Union of Students in Ireland has urged students travelling to the US on a J1 visa this summer to be "cautious and informed" about the potential ri...
The Last Word On Travel: Japan
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin Murphy, Travel Writer with TravelExpert.ie joined Matt for the travel slot on The Last Word, where this week’s destination was Japan.Hit the...
Rory McIlroy Wins The Masters To Complete Career Grand Slam
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rory McIlroy won his first major tournament in 11 years when he was crowned Masters Champion at Augusta on Sunday night.After so much heartbreak over ...
What Will Donald Trump Do Next?
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mick Mulvaney, former chief of staff to Donald Trump, joins The Last Word to discuss the US President's attitude to Russia, the motive behind his tari...
How To Rebuild A Life In The Aftermath Of Acquittal
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Amanda Knox, podcaster, writer and exoneree, talks about rebuilding her life following her acquittal for murder in Italy, and reintegrating into life ...
The Week Trending: Curbing Dublin City Drinking, Young People Ditch The Home Ownership Dream & Are Pets Bad For The Environment?
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shop owners push back against outdoor drinking on a popular Dublin city street, record-high house prices push young people to ditch their dream of own...
20 Years After Irene White's Murder, The Mastermind Behind It Is Still At Large
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pat Marry and Robin Schiller, authors of The Ice House Murder, detail the investigation into the murder of mother of three Irene White, at Ice House i...
TikTok & Apple - How Could Tariffs Affect Your Tech?
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the United States and China continue to exchange tariff jibes, what will happen to the Chinese owned social media platform TikTok, which was alread...
The Last Word On The US: Trump Announces 90-Day Pause On Tariffs
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On Wednesday, Donald Trump announced he would be pausing plans to introduce tariffs on goods from most countries for 90 days.Explaining why he did so,...
High Levels Of Burnout Being Experienced By Teachers
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A study released by DCU has found that teachers at both primary and secondary level in Ireland are experiencing burnout and poor mental health.The rep...
Culture Club: Eoin McNamee
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To celebrate the release of his eighth novel “The Bureau”, author Eoin McNamee joined Matt for this week’s Culture Club.Hit the ‘Play’ butto...
"If He Doesn't Win It This Year, He Probably Never Will" - Can Rory McIlroy Finally Win The Masters?
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rory McIlroy is once again looking to complete a career Grand Slam at The Masters, but can he finally pull it off?Lawrence Donegan, founder and editor...
RTÉ Staff Will Soon Be Able To Apply For Voluntary Redundancy
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
RTÉ staff have been told that the organisation's redundancy scheme will open later this month with payments capped at €300,000.Ian Guider, columnis...
Personal Finance: What Tariffs Will Mean For Irish Consumers
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor, Irish Independent, discussed where tariffs might hit consumers in terms of fuel prices, pensions and energy p...
What Are The Best Songs Of The Last 25 Years?
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On the Easter bank holiday weekend, Today FM will be counting down the best 500 songs of the last 25 years, and you the listeners can get involved by ...
The Last Word On The US: China Vows To 'Fight To The End' In US Tariff War
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
China has vowed to "fight to the end" as President Donald Trump threatens to impose further tariffs on Chinese goods.Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated...
'Devastating' Spinal Surgeries Report Finds Children Not Protected From Risk
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
An independent review into the use of unapproved metal springs in paediatric spinal surgeries has found that "children were left unprotected from risk...
Jack Crowley’s Drop Goal Seals Munster’s Win Against La Rochelle
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Munster recorded an impressive win against Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle on Saturday in the Investec Champions Cup last 16, setting up a mouthwaterin...
Should Passengers To The US Delete Their Social Media Before They Go?
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brian Honan, chief executive and cybersecurity expert, BH consulting and Louise Corrigan, US immigration lawyer, Louise Corrigan Law discuss discuss t...
The Last Word on Travel: Sea And River Cruises
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Slattery from the travelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to talk about the best options for couples, families and solo travelers who may be looking...
The Week Trending: Russell Brand Charged With Rape, Chappell Roan Says Friends With Kids Are 'In Hell' & Nobody Is Staying In Farmleigh
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russell Brand is charged with rape and sexual assault, Chappell Roan says all her friends who have children are 'in hell' and the rarely used Farmleig...
Irish Surgeon On His Experience Of Treating Patients In Gaza
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trauma surgeon Dr Morgan McMonagle recently spent six weeks on a humanitarian mission in Gaza.On The Last Word he recounts the challenges faced by hea...
Only Half Of New Fathers Avail Of Paternity Leave
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New research from the ESRI has shown that only half of fathers are using paternity leave, with issues around levels of income a common reason for not ...
Mick O’Dwyer Remembered
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On Thursday, the death was announced of former intercounty manager and legendary figure, Mick O’Dwyer.Micko was arguably the most influential manage...
Reaction To Trump Tariffs As US Stock Markets Tumble
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
IDA Ireland chairman Feargal O’Rourke considers next steps to guarantee continued inward investment into Ireland following Trump’s 20% tariffs.Kat...
Digital Hygiene Practices To Keep Your Online Life Efficient And Secure
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From keeping track of passwords to clearing old email accounts, Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to discuss the measures you can take to protect yo...
Culture Club: Roisin Murphy
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Legendary singer-songwriter Roisin Murphy was the latest inductee into the Culture Club on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hea...
Ryanair Is First European Airline To Fly 200m Passengers In A Year
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ryanair flew 200.2 million passengers in its fiscal year to the end of March, making it the first European airline to carry 200 million passengers in ...
Personal Finance: Calls For Insurance Premiums To Be Lowered After Fewer Personal Injury Claims Are Made
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Independent, says there has been a huge fall in personal injury claims, with the value of payouts als...