The Last Word with Matt Cooper

63% of young people come across extremist views online, compared to just 6% in real life, according to a new study from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office. Dr Darragh McCashin, from DCU's Anti-Bullying centre, and Noeline Blackwell, online safety coordinator with the Children’s Rights Alliance, join The Last Word to discuss the survey which also found that boys are perceived to be more likely to...

Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with The Independent, discusses the findings of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission survey on Christmas spending, including statistics on who hasn't used last year's vouchers and also how much people intend to spend this year. Charlie also looks at the rise in people taking out health insurance cover despite price increases. To catch the full...

Dee Reddy and John Caddell discuss the latest music news including the first acts announced for Electric Picnic 2026, Daniel O'Donnell's planned sabbatical, and they have their music picks of the week. To catch the full conversation, press the play button on this page.

The Trump administration is under pressure for answers about military strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats, after a report alleged that United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an order to "kill everybody" onboard. Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone 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...

Acclaimed author and screenwriter John Banville sits down with Matt to discuss his new book Venetian Vespers. They also discuss his extensive career in writing Hit Play on this page to catch the full chat

This week on the Last Word on TV & Streaming Elaine Burke, Joe O'Shea and Matt discuss the death of TV presenter and architect Hugh Wallace They also discuss the forthcoming Late Late Toy Show and much more Hit Play on this page to listen now

Dublin City Council will discuss a proposal to de-name Herzog Park, named after the former Israeli president. There have also been discussions about re-naming Dublin Airport, raising questions about whether de-naming property is a good idea or indeed if naming buildings after people is a good idea at all. Matt is joined by Associate Professor of Political Science in DCU Eoin O’Malley and historian...

Russell Alford, co-restaurant critic with the Sunday Times and one half of the GastroGays, joins The Last Word to chat about more of his top travel destinations for those in search of great food. This time he is bringing us to Stockholm where specialties include Swedish meatballs and cardamom buns and then to Berlin for currywurst and kebabs. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on th...

Pulitzer-nominated author Timothy Gay sits down with Matt to talk about his new book Rory Land: The Up-and-Down World of Golf's Global Icon. In it he tells the story of one of golf's biggest stars off the back of his incredible sporting year. Hit Play on this page to listen now

A new investigation puts Penneys clothing to the test; the US Department of Transportation urges air travellers to dress better and be more civil; and the story of the runaway nuns. Aoife Barry, broadcaster and author, and Paddy Duffy, TV producer, join The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Actor, playwright and activist Emmet Kirwan joins Matt in studio to talk about Focus Ireland's Christmas Campaign: No Child Without a Home. Along with being an ambassador for that this Christmas he is also starring in the The Gate theatre's production of A Christmas Carol Hit Play on this page to catch the full chat now

Ireland's birth rate has fallen by 20% in just 11 years according a new report from the HSE which shows 53,185 babies were born last year compared to 67,263 in 2014. Dr Carmel Hannan, associate professor in the Department of Sociology at University of Limerick, and Dan O’Brien, chief economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs, join The Last Word to discuss why birth rates con...

Two years ago, author and academic Dr Katriona O'Sullivan won Biography of the year and Last Word Listeners' Choice at the An Post Irish Book Awards. She talks to Matt about the impact of winning the awards, her best selling book Poor and its follow-up Hungry, to be released in 2026. Dr O'Sullivan also spoke about her new role, heading up the National Centre For Inclusive Higher Education at Mayno...

John Gibbons joins The Last Word to give his assessment of this year's United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Following on from The Last Word Gadget Show, Andy O'Donoghue runs through an A to Z of his best Black Friday and Christmas gifting ideas, from smart luggage to e-readers and smart scales. To catch the full conversation and Andy's best recommendations, press the 'play' button on this page.

Matt speaks to 98FM's Cathal O'Sullivan and SPIN 1038 Presenter Faye Shortt after they spent the week testing fitness and sound gadgets. From speakers and headphones to fitness watches and ice baths, hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear what they thought of all their choices. The Last Word's Gadget Show is with thanks to Currys.

Matt and Andy O'Donoghue are joined by broadcaster Fionnuala Jones and she gives her thoughts on the Nintendo Switch 2, the PS5 Digital Edition and laptops which are available via Currys.ie. Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear her reviews. The Last Word's Gadget Show is with thanks to Currys.

Ed Smith joins Matt and Andy O'Donoghue to review the best gadgets available to children and families this Christmas. From robot dogs to DJ sets, Ed's got something for everyone. The Last Word's Gadget Show is with thanks to Currys and all products can be found on www.currys.ie.

Today FM Lunchtime presenter Louise Cantillon joins The Last Word to chat about the health and beauty tech that she has been testing for the Gadget Show. From an LED face mask to the Dyson airwrap – press ‘Play’ to hear Louise review all of the gadgets! Products can be found on currys.ie.

As part of The Last Word’s Gadget Show, Russell Alford, 98fm producer and one-half of the GastroGays, has been trying out some incredible food and drink tech including a toaster that makes the perfect toastie, an air fryer for larger families and an at home beer tap. Russell joins Matt and tech journalist Andy O’Donoghue to give his review of all the products he tested. Catch the full chat by pres...

The Last Word Gadget Show is back! Kicking it off, tech journalists Andy O’Donoghue and Elaine Burke join Matt to review the incredible products that they have been testing including the Meta Ray-ban glasses, an affordable smartphone and a record player. Catch the full chat by pressing the ‘Play’ button on this page! Products can be found on currys.ie.

The White House said on Tuesday that the United States has made “tremendous progress" towards ending the war in Ukraine but further talks are required. Marion McKeone and Cal Thomas join The Last Word to discuss President Donald Trump's renewed push for a peace deal and more of the latest news from the US. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The Last Word is continuing its series exploring the issues faced by commuters travelling to Ireland's cities and this time the focus is on Waterford. Donnchadh Mulcahy, Sinn Fein councillor for Lismore, Sadhbh O’Neill, climate and environmental researcher and Irish Times contributor, and Éadaoin Carrick, president of Waterford Chamber of Commerce, join The Last Word to discuss Waterford's transpo...

The government is often unable to track public spending due to fears it would break GDPR rules leading to issues with finding just where money is going Political Editor at the Irish Daily Mail Craig Hughes joins Daniel McConnell to explain more. Hit Play on this page to listen now

Legendary novelist and presenter Richard Osman joins Matt in studio to talk about his New Book The Impossible Fortune, the latest in the bestselling Thursday Murder Club Mystery series. They also discuss his career, including as a presenter including on Pointless and his podcast alongside Journalist Marina Hyde; The Rest is Entertainment. Hit Play on this page to listen now.