The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Former government minister Shane Ross has written his latest book, looking back on the history of the national broadcaster.He reflects on past controversies that threatened to impact its reputation and also looks forward to what the future might hold for the company.He speaks to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

World Weather Attribution has conducted a study which found that 25% of matches at this year’s FIFA World Cup are likely to be played in temperatures over 26 degrees Celsius.Extreme heat conditions are most likely to be experienced in Miami, New York, New Jersey and New York.Officials insist they have plans in place to accommodate players if the weather gets too hot, but is it fair to expect them to compete in such conditions?Environmental commentator John Gibbons joins Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

This week for Tech Thursday, Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to discuss some of the latest screenless wearable tech amid increasing demand for screen free smart watches and health tracking devices.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Ahead of bringing his Past & Present Tour to Dublin's Fairview Park & the SSE Arena in Belfast, David Gray joins Daniel McConnell on for The Last Word's Culture Club.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear his choices.

Bertie Ahern has said he has 'no problem' with people from Africa or the Congo as he rolls back on comments he made during a recent canvas in Dublin Central.In a video circulating on social media, the former Taoiseach says, in a conversation on a doorstep, that he has concerns about the level of immigration and that Ireland "can't be taking in people" coming from "the Congo".Louise Burne, political correspondent with the Irish Examiner, and Gary Murphy, professor of politics at the School of Law and Government in DCU, join The Last Word to discuss Ahern's comments and to look at the lay of the land in the upcoming bye-elections in Dublin Central and Galway West.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Author Seamas O'Reilly talks to Matt about his debut novel, Prestige Drama. Set in Derry, it tells the story of a Hollywood star coming to town to research a role for a Troubles based TV show and what happens when she mysteriously disappears.Seamas also discusses the literature of Northern Ireland and the role writers play in getting to a collective truth.To listen to the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

US President Donald Trump will this week make a state visit to China with the Strait of Hormuz, tariffs and Taiwan all likely to be on the agenda during talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss Trump's visit to China and more of the latest news from the United States.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland has warned that rural pubs in Ireland are facing an “existential threat” due to rising costs, citing 2,500 closures since 2005.The organisation is calling on the government to provide tax credits in order to protect smaller pubs around the country.Pat Crotty, Chief Executive of the VFI, speaks to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Elaine Burke and Kate Henshaw join Matt to talk about the biggest tv news and releases of the week.They chat about The Bear, Amandaland and more Hit Play on this page to listen now

New research by RedClick has found that just 3% of people in Ireland cycle every day and highlights the barriers that cyclists face on Irish roads.Should more be done to make cycling in Ireland more accessible, or is there too much investment in cycling infrastructure considering the low numbers presented in the study?Conor Faughnan, Motoring Expert at Carzone.ie and Ciaran Cannon, CEO of Cycling Ireland speak to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

There are more than 30 council-owned properties currently lying in states of dereliction.Joining Matt to discuss what can be done to bring these properties back in to use is Founder & Director of Anois, Jude Sherry and Sinn Fein Councillor and Member of the Dublin City Council Housing Committee Daithí DoolanHit Play on this page to listen now

Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to chat about some great lesser known destinations in Europe's hotspots. Sarah's recommendations:Asturias, Northern SpainPuglia & Matera, ItalyChania, CreteTavira, PortugalÎle de Ré, FranceCatch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Some of the stories dominating the news this week included the cruise ship hantavirus outbreak, the 100th birthday of legendary British environmentalist David Attenborough, and Michael O'Leary's latest call to ban airport pints.Deirdre O’Shaughnessy, Irish Examiner editor and podcast host, and Jennifer Horgan, teacher and columnist, join The Last Word to discuss these and more of the week's trending stories.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Brian Lloyd joins The Last Word to review the week's biggest movie releases, 'Mortal Kombat II' and 'The Sheep Detectives'.He also discusses the latest trailer for Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' which has sparked debate over the use of American accents and contemporary language by the stars in the film.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Broadcaster & natural historian David Attenborough will celebrate his 100th birthday this week, and on Thursday’s environment slot, John Gibbons paid tribute to his career.Matt also talks to John about Dublin City Council’s decision to ban bin bags on a further 110 city-centre streets.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

Andy O'Donoghue runs through the latest wellness tech, that pivot away from fitness towards deep rest and relaxation. From smart lamps, fitness rings, sleep masks and temperature regulators, Andy has you covered!To catch, the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Singer songwriter Jess Kav is the latest guest on The Culture Club.She joins The Last Word to chat about her favourite music, movies, TV and more. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has said that a ban on serving alcohol in the early hours of the morning should be implemented in airports in order to reduce disruptive behaviour from passengers onboard flights.Bars in Irish and UK airports do not have to follow the same opening hours restrictions that other outlets do.Ali Dunworth, author of “A Compendium of Irish Pints: The Culture, Customs and Craic” speaks to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor of The Irish Independent, outlines the latest Eurostat survey of electricity prices across Europe.Charlie also explains the hidden insurance costs of adding a modular home to your property.To listen to the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has insisted that the ceasefire with Iran is not over despite renewed attacks by the Iranians.Marion McKeone and Larry Donnelly 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!

Earlier this week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that Ireland should explore the idea of using nuclear power in order to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.Fianna Fáil TD James O'Connor has introduced a bill to reverse the ban and it is due to be debated in the Dáil in the coming months.Dr. Paul Deane, senior lecturer in Clean Energy Futures at UCC and Senator Malcolm Noonan of the Green Party speak to Matt on The Last Word about this.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

This week on The Week Trending TodayFm News Reporter Emily Keegan and head of training at the Communications Clinic Lorcan Nyhan join Matt to discuss the news of the week.They discuss a decline in marriages, Ireland's growing tipping culture and more Hit Play on this page to listen now

As the latest series of The Late Late Show comes to an end, rumours of Patrick Kielty’s exit have swirled throughout the week.If he did step aside, could RTE use it as a chance to freshen the show up, and who would be the best candidate to take over as host?Brenda Power, columnist with the Irish Daily Mail and Elaine Burke, The Last Word's TV & Streaming contributor & host of the For Tech’s Sake podcast speak to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the discussion.

Over the next four weeks, researchers at the Trinity Centre for Transport Research are surveying the opinions of M50 users on how congestion on the motorway impacts their daily lives and what solutions they would like to see.Professor Brian Caulfield, professor of transportation at Trinity College Dublin, joins The Last Word to discuss why the M50 has become so congested and some of the options that could help relieve the pressure.The survey can be filled out here.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Filmmaker David Gleeson joins The Last Word to discuss his latest feature film 'Once Upon A Time In A Cinema' which is based on his own family's experience of running cinemas in rural Ireland.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Cara O’Doherty joins Matt on The Last Word to review the much-anticipated The Devil Wears Prada 2, starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt.How does it compare to the first film, which was released 20 years ago?Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear their chat.

With the news that the Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is pulling out of funding LIV golf, many are questioning if this spells the endSports writer Kieran Cunningham joins Matt to discussHit Play on this page to listen now

John Gibbons joins Matt to discuss the biggest stories of the week for The Last Word on the Environment.They discuss the Nature Restoration Plan, solar panels and more Hit Play on this page to listen now

This week, Tánaiste Simon Harris expressed concern about Artificial Intelligence deepfakes after a 'highly convincing' video falsely portraying him as endorsing investment products circulated online.Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to discuss how to spot a deepfake and a new free online course that aims to upskill people in AI.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Designer Peter O'Brien joins Matt for this week’s Culture Club on The Last Word.Peter is participating in this year’s ‘Incognito’ campaign, which is Ireland's biggest online art sale in aid of the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation taking place on May 20th.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear his choices.

Professor of Psychology and Author Katriona O'Sullivan joins Matt to discuss her new book Hungry: A Biography of My BodyShe gives us a sense of the book and how it deals with her lifelong journey to loving her bodyHit Play on this page to listen now

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris joins The Last Word to discuss the government's response to the ongoing fuel crisis. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Author Lesley Bond sits down with Matt to discuss her new memoir Blasket Bound.We hear about her once-in-a-lifetime experience working as caretaker on the uninhabited Blasket islands Hit Play on this page to listen now.

As the fallout continues from Saturday's shooting incident White House Correspondents' Dinner, US late night host Jimmy Kimmel has defended a joke, which aired days before the event, in which he called Melania Trump an "expectant widow".Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss this and more of the latest news from the United States. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Fianna Fáil TD and former Kilkenny hurler Peter 'Chap' Cleere is calling for the introduction of a 20% tax relief on children’s sports memberships as he says some families face spending up to €1,500 a year when they have several children involved in sport.The Carlow-Kilkenny TD joins The Last Word to discuss the measure, which he will be pushing for in October's budget.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The disappearance of Tina Satchwell in March 2017 from her home in Youghal, Co. Cork was one that gripped the nation. Her husband, Richard, was convicted of her murder in May 2025.Barry Cummins, journalist and author of ‘Buried Secrets: The Murder of Tina Satchwell and a Journalist’s Journey into Ireland’s Most Chilling Cold Case’, recounts the case and the road Tina’s family faced when trying to get justice for her.He speaks to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

The world record for fastest marathon was broken as two runners finished in London in under two hours Sabastian Sawe finished the race in 1 hour 59 minutes and 30 seconds. Matt is joined by Athletics Journalist Cathal Dennehy to talk about what this means for the future and whether our eyebrows should be raised.Hit Play on this page to listen now

King Charles and Queen Camilla have begun their visit to the US in the wake of the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.Joining Matt with the latest on the visit is LBC presenter Nick Ferrari Hit Play on this page to listen now

This week on The Last Word on Travel Sarah Slattery of takes us through the top tips for MarrakechShe brings us all you need to know when planning a trip to the Moroccan cityHit Play on this page to listen now

The Government is looking at providing one-off payments for energy saving home upgrades such as heat pumps and efficient cars to help households become less reliant on fossil fuels amid the current global fuel crisis. Philip Hannon, chief executive of the Alliance for Zero Carbon Heating, and Muireann Lynch, senior research officer at the ESRI, join The Last Word to discuss the latest proposals being considered by Government.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

This week for The Week Trending, Matt is joined by Journalist Kate Henshaw and Managing Director at the Communications Clinic Eoghan McDermott to discuss the weeks biggest stories.They discuss a potential return to school from home, Ryder Cup ticket prices and moreHit Play on this page to listen now

New figures obtained by The Irish Times has shown that the number of United States troops travelling through Shannon Airport increased by almost 80% before and during the US' attacks on Iran.Conor Gallagher, Crime & Security Correspondent with the Irish Times, joins Matt to explain the significance of the situation.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Photographer Ruth Medjber is well known for her music photography and her distinctive portraits, but in 2026 she has taken on a whole new challenge.For 365 days, Ruth is travelling around Ireland, meeting new people, taking their photo and recording their story.Ruth joins The Last Word to chat all about her project 'Sin Scéal Eile'Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' is out in cinemas this weekend. The film, which is predicted to have the biggest opening weekend of any music biopic, follows the star's rise to fame with the Jackson 5 through to his hugely successful solo career but ends just before child abuse allegations against Jackson began to come to light.Brian Lloyd joins The Last Word to review 'Michael' as well as the psychological drama 'Mother Mary' which stars Anne Hathaway and 'Exit 8', a Japanese horror film that takes a refreshing approach.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

This week on The Last Word on the Environment, John Gibbons tells us how climate change is making your hayfever worseThey also discuss the government's environmental strategy and much more Hit Play on this page to listen now

This week, Apple announced that Tim Cook would be stepping down as its CEO after nearly 15 years in the role, with head of hardware engineering, John Ternus, succeeding him in September.What does the future hold for the company, and what are the biggest challenges facing Ternus when he takes over?Andy O’Donoghue joins Matt on Thursday’s The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Gavan Reilly, political correspondent with Virgin Media and presenter of Monday With Gavan Reilly, is the latest guest to join The Last Word for the Culture Club.He chats to Matt all about his favourite music, movies, tv shows and more.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Tickets for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor will go on sale for Irish golf fans this Friday and on Wednesday, the the cost of attending the competition was revealed.One ticket will cost a record-breaking €499 per day, which significantly higher than the €638 price when it was held in Rome in 2023.Larry Donnelly, Lecturer in Law at the University of Galway and avid golfer, speaks to Matt on The Last Word about how ordinary punters are being priced out of attending major sporting events.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

In 1958, Northern Ireland Prime Minister Terence O'Neill had a plan to drain Lough Neagh. In her latest novel, Few And Far Between, Jan Carson has imaged what would have happen if the plan had been complete, and who might have sought refuge in there during the conflict years. To listen to the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page

FBI Director Kash Patel has filed a defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic after the publication reported allegations of "excessive drinking and unexplained absences". Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss this and Trump's latest comments about the war in Iran.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!