The Last Word with Matt Cooper

This Week on The Last Word on Sport, Dion Fanning and Tony Cascarino preview the weekend’s Premier League action.They discuss Sunday’s Manchester Derby, the upcoming Irish squad announcement and more Hit Play on this page to listen now

Kai Mark and Susan Goldmark join Matt to talk about one of the most significant figures in Donald Trump's life.Their new book American Scoundrel, Roy Cohn’s Journey From Joe McCarthy To Donald Trump tells his story.Hit Play on this page to listen now

This week on The Week Trending Matt is joined by writer and contributor to the Irish Times and Hot Press Roe McDermott and Irish Independent podcast producer, and host of No Encore podcast Dave Hanratty.They discuss the the new Sadie Sink ad, a stark warning about the future of AI and more Hit Play on this page to listen now

Paul McCormack, a retired deputy inspector with the NYPD and Marion McKeone tell their stories of being in New York on the day the World Trade Centre was attacked. Paul recounts sending his colleagues in Precinct 41 to the World Trade Centre as rescue efforts began. He talks about the arduous task of searching through the debris, and the long term affects of that day on his life, and the lives of thousands of others.Marion McKeone remembers the immediate after shocks and disbelief of the attacks and the noise, chaos and panic of the towers collapsing. Marion talks about the thousands of people, covered in yellow dust as they walked away.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

The much-anticipated Oasis documentary 'Don't Look Back In Anger' hit the big screen this week, delving into the reconciliation of brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher and the stadium tour that followed in 2025.Cara O'Doherty reviews it, as well as 'Pressure' and 'Everybody Digs Bill Evans' on The Last Word's movies slot.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the chat.

This week on The Last Word on the Environment John Gibbons joins Matt to discuss the joint hottest ever month of August.They also discuss Minister for Climate Daragh O’Brien’s comments and more Hit Play on this page to listen now

Minister for Transport Daragh O’Brien sits down with Matt to discuss some of the biggest issues for the rest of the year.They discuss public transport fare increases, rising energy prices and more Hit Play on this page to listen now.

Andy O'Donoghue speaks to Matt on The Last Word to take a look at the best smart speakers on the market, and what features you should look out for when buying one.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the piece.

Cork comedian Kyla Cobbler is the latest inductee into The Last Word Culture Club. Kyla talks to Matt about her memoir Happy,Thank You, More Please and her rise to fame during Covid. She also talks through her favourite music, books, TV and more.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Journalist John Sweeney joins Matt to talk about his new book The Real Nigel Farage: The Would-Be Prime Minister On Trial.They discuss whether the Reform leader is the ‘pound shop Donald Trump’Hit Play on this page to listen now

On Tuesday, Mary McAleese announced her decision to step down from her position as chair of the Steering Group on Integration, which was overseeing the merging of the GAA, the LGFA and the Camogie Association.So, what now for the future of the plan, which the GAA insists won’t be completed by the 2027 deadline?Colm Keys, GAA Correspondent with the Irish Independent and Fine Gael senator Evanne Ní Chuilinn speak to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

This week on The Last Word on Personal Finance Charlie Weston Joins Matt to offer advice advice after the news that Bord Gáis is significantly hiking it’s prices Hit Play on this page to listen now

This week on The Last Word on the US, Cal Thomas and Marione McKeone bring us all the latest news fro stateside including looking ahead to the 25th anniversary of 9/11.Hit Play on this page to listen now

Mimi Tatlow Golden, mother of Daniel Tatlow Devally, speaks to Matt ahead of her son's trial.Daniel has been detained in Germany since September 2025, along with four other activists after an alleged break-in at an Elbit Systems defence factory in the German City of Ulm. Daniel was denied bail as he was considered a flight risk.Campaigners are calling for an independent observer to attend the trial in Ulm.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

22% of Irish adults are considered obses according to new figure from the European Commission.HSE National Clinical Lead for Obesity Professor Donal O’Shea joins Matt to discuss what these figures meanHit Play on this page to listen now

On Monday, RTE released its viewing figures for Katie Taylor’s fight vs Flora Pili at Croke Park, with her final bout reaching a peak audience of 1.6million people.Elaine Burke, Joe O’Shea and Kate Henshaw speak to Matt on The Last Word’s TV & Streaming slot.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Conor Hanly, law lecturer at the University of Galway and Eoghan O’Sullivan, partner with Powderly Solicitors, discuss the implications of the continuing strike by solicitors who've left the free legal aid registry over changes to the structure of payments. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Katie Taylor will wrap up an incredible boxing career this Saturday at a sold-out Croke Park. Gavan Casey, sportswriters with the 42.ie, joins The Last Word to look ahead to Taylor's farewell fight against French boxer Flora Pili. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Former referee Mike Dean landed in hot water this week after he said on a podcast that he used to entertain himself by playing games with other officials during matches 'as a laugh'.Dion Fanning and Tony Cascarino join The Last Word to discuss whether the 'cult of the referee' has gone too far.They also look ahead to the weekend's Premier League games with Arsenal hosting Chelsea the pick of the bunch.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Emma Nolan, presenter of Spin Breakfast, and Lorcan Nyhan, head of training at the Communications Clinic, join The Last Word for The Week Trending.They chat about waste at Electric Picnic, efforts to decolonise the world map, and complaints that viewers in Northern Ireland can't watch The Traitors Ireland on RTÉ Player.Hear all that and more by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

New research from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has found that Irish house prices are overvalued by over one fifth.This is due to a combination of factors including a shortage of supply, house prices rising faster than income levels and increases in mortgage rates.Dr. Paul Egan, Senior Research Officer at the ESRI and Marian Finnegan, Chief Executive of the Sherry FitzGerald Group speak to The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Sebastian Barry talks to Matt about his latest novel, The Newer World, which tells the story of Tennyson Bouguereau, a freed slave trying to find meaning in post-Civil War America.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

The jury in the Lindsay Clancy triple murder trial has failed to deliver a verdict for a second time.Ms. Clancy has pleaded not guilty to the murder of her three children by reason of insanity, with her lawyers saying she was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time of the killings.Marion McKeone explains to The Last Word what we know from the trial so far.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

The World Meteorological Organisation has said that El Niño, which changes weather patterns around the world, will likely cause all land areas to experience higher than normal temperatures between now and February next year.What effects will we feel from it here in Ireland?Commentator John Gibbons speaks to Matt on The Last Word’s environment slot.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Is your phone constantly being blown up by news notifications? Have you completely lost track of what outlets you're subscribed to?Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to run through the best apps to help you get the best out of your news subscriptions.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Musician Paul Noonan is the latest inductee into the Culture Club. Best known as the lead singer of Bell XI, Paul has founded many other musical projects including The House Plants and Pilgrims. Paul talks to Will O'Callaghan about his work as a music therapist, as well as his upcoming gig at the NCH with Pilgrims and the music, books and movies that have soundtracked and influenced his own life and work.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

CyberSafeKids has published it's annual report entitled 'The Year Little Changed.' The report surveyed 6,000 children aged between 8 and 12, and found that despite legal obligations, there's been no reduction in underaged children accessing Apps for 13+.Alex Cooney, CEO, CyberSafeKids and Adrian Weckler, technology editor, Irish & Sunday Independent, discuss the findings of the report.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

If you’re looking for ways to save money between now and the end of the year, Charlie Weston of the Irish Independent has some tips for how you can do just that.He speaks to Will O’Callaghan on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Ryan Caldwell is a former rugby star who played for Ireland and Ulster, but his story, as detailed in his incredible autobiography 'White Lines', is far from a typical sports story.Ryan joins The Last Word to discuss his descent into drug addiction, ending up in a prison cell, and how he rebuilt his life.Hear the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss the latest news from the United States including President Donald Trump threatening an NBC host over her coverage of his candidate endorsements in the primary elections. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Elaine Burke and Joe O'Shea join The Last Word to discuss the return of The Traitors Ireland, how to watch Katie Taylor's final fight, and the best new shows to watch on TV and streaming this week. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Paul Howard follows his much loved Ross O'Carroll Kelly series of books with a new satire focusing on plans for a united Ireland.In A Nation Once Again, world-weary diplomat Fiach O'Bric is asked to head up a clandestine unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs that is tasked with resolving the finer details of reunification of Ireland, such as deciding if Dublin should remain the capital and who should compose a new national anthem.Paul chats to Matt about the book and the many bureaucratic hurdles that would have to be overcome to unite Ireland.

Sarah Slattery, thetravelexpert.ie, has a rundown of all of the best Spa destinations on offer across Ireland to suit every budget.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Residents of Killarney, Co Kerry were caught by surprise on Thursday night when torrential downpours led to "chaos" in the town.Mayor of Killarney John O’Donoghue joins The Last Word to discuss what happened and the extent of the clean-up operation.John Ryan, chief underwriter at Allianz Insurance, also joins to discuss a proposal from Insurance Ireland to introduce a levy of €24 per insured household to help those who can't get flood cover.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Brian Lloyd joins The Last Word for the weekly movie slot with three new releases to review: Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic thriller 'The Dog Stars', the explicit (and very funny) comedy 'I Want Your Sex', and the high-concept rom-com 'One Night Only'.Brian also pays tribute to the actor Tim Curry, best known for his role in 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show', who died this week aged 80, and he discusses Dolly Parton's film career.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

UK citizens will be told to stock up on some food types in order to ensure they’re prepared for national emergencies.Should that be something that’s implemented here in Ireland?Commentator John Gibbons speaks to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

AI is transforming health tracking from a collection of raw numbers into a personal coach. By analysing heart rate, sleep stages, and skin temperature, these tools translate biometric data into fitness plans.Andy O'Donoghue runs through the best of the fitness wearables on the market, from watches to rings to compression shorts. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Former Labour politician and writer Liz McManus is the latest Culture Club inductee, as she marks the release of her new book, Tiny Bruises.The book uses historical events as a springboard for 12 stories that shine a light on the last century of Irish life. Liz talks to Matt about the inspiration for the book. She also chats about the music, books, movies and other cultural favourites that have shaped her life.To catch the full conversation, press the ‘play’ button on this page.

Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80 after a short battle with cancer.The country music legend was known for hit songs such as Jolene and I Will Always Love You as well as her extensive philanthropic work.Ed Smith and Keith Duggan join The Last Word to discuss Parton's musical talent and the incredible legacy she leaves behind.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Electric Picnic 2026 takes place in Stradbally, Co. Laois this weekend with an estimated 80,000 people set to attend.Gorillaz, Zara Larsson, Sombr and Lewis Capaldi will feature across the weekend alongside top Irish talent like CMAT, Fontaines DC and Amble.Dave Hanratty and John Caddell speak to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear their chat.

Canada has announced its response to the tariffs imposed by US president Donald Trump as the trade war between the two countries deepens and both sides continue to throw insults across the border.Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss this and more of the latest news from the United States including Trump's threat to sanction countries that trade with Iran.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

A report in the Irish Times this week highlighted the case of a radiologist who reviewed scans for HSE patients through an external company, despite having his licence revoked in two countries for misreading images.Shauna Bowers, health correspondent with Irish Times, and Professor Matthew Sadlier, vice president of the Irish Medical Organisation, join The Last Word to discuss how this can happen and the regulatory challenges that can arise when doctors are working in multiple jurisdictions.Press the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the full discussion!

Manchester United began their 2025/26 Premier League campaign with a shock defeat to Hull on Saturday afternoon.Meanwhile, Keith Andrews' Brentford had the perfect start with a commanding win over Tottenham, and Liverpool rescued a point against Newcastle thanks to a late Dominik Szoboszlai penalty.Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer with The Independent and Off The Ball's Will O'Callaghan join Matt on The Last Word to look back at the weekend's results.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the piece.

The Traitors Ireland returns to our screens on Sunday night, and Matt speaks to Darren Smith, Managing Director of Kite Entertainment about what fans can expect from the castle this year.Elaine Burke and Joe O’Shea also join to discuss the new series, plus the Netherlands’ decision to pull boycott Eurovision for the second year running.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Sarah Slattery, thetravelexpert.ie, explains why there is much more to the Costa Del Sol than beaches and bars. Sarah has all you need to know to explore the Spanish coastline including the famous white villages scattered along the hilltops, a walk through the Caminito Del Rey, and the marble streets of Malaga city, with it’s shops and museums.To catch the full conversation, press the ‘play’ button on this page.

The new season of the Premier League begins on Friday night with champions Arsenal hosting newly promoted Coventry at the Emirates Stadium.Can Arteta's side go back-to-back, what should we expect from Man City under Enzo Maresca and can Liverpool put their woes from last season behind them?Gavin Cooney of the Irish Times, former Ireland international Tony Cascarino and co-host of the Free State podcast Dion Fanning preview the season ahead.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the piece.

This week on The Week Trending, Matt is joined by Journlist Lise Hand and podcast producer with the Independent and host of No Encore podcast Dave Hanratty.They discuss the ‘targeting’ of buskers in Cork, Mark Zuckerberg buying a castle in Ireland, the return of the Irish Rail trolley and more Hit Play on this page to listen now

Author of The Nerd Reich, Gil Durán, joins The Last Word to explore how 'tech fascism' continues to influence U.S politics. To listen to the full chat, press 'PLAY' on this page.

A landmark US case is asking whether Meta deliberately designed parts of it's social media platforms to keep children and teenagers compulsively engaged. The case further claims that Meta knew those designs could cause harm, and then misled the public about the risks. Andy O'Donoghue explains the case and the implications for Meta if the US states are successful. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, will return to the UK later this month after six years of living in the US with their two children reportedly due to start school there in September.Nick Ferrari, presenter of Nick Ferrari at Breakfast on LBC Radio, joins The Last Word to discuss what triggered their move and what their life will be like upon their return.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!