The Last Word with Matt Cooper

The US Senate has approved a Bill that would end the longest government shutdown in US history which has disrupted food benefits and left hundreds of thousands of workers unpaid. Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone joined The Last Word to discuss all of the latest news from the United States. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Single adults need to earn significantly more than couples if they want to enjoy a comparable lifestyle, according to new research. Kelly Warburton, a single first-time buyer, and Michael Dowling, Managing Director of Michael Dowling Mortgage and Financial Services, joined The Last Word to discuss the financial challenges faced by single people. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on...

Catherine Connolly has been formally declared the 10th president of Ireland following her inauguration at Dublin Castle on Tuesday. In her speech, she said she would “embrace the role with dignity, determination and courage”. She also vowed to be a “unifying presence” and a “catalyst for change”. What will Connolly’s presidency look like? Lise Hand & Flor McCarthy, co-hosts of the Think You Kn...

Matt Cooper introduces Lines of Enquiry, a new true crime podcast from GoLoud. Presented by retired Garda forensic specialist John Sweetman, the series examines some of Ireland’s most compelling cases with clarity, compassion and rare inside detail. Each episode breaks down how cases were built, what the evidence revealed, and the turning points that shaped the search for truth. If you’re looking...

Irish Olympian and former 400m runner, David Gillick spoke to Matt Cooper about his memoir The Race, charting the highs and lows of his athletics career. He also spoke about life away from the track. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

On Sunday, the BBC’s Director General Tim Davie and Chief Executive of News Deborah Turness both resigned after they were accused of misleading viewers by editing a speech by US President Donald Trump in a Panorama documentary. Mr. Trump has welcomed the resignations and threatened to sue the broadcasting company if it does not "immediately retract" the programme. Joe O’Shea and Elaine Burke joine...

From a luxury resort in Thailand to the rocky island of Skellig Michael, TV shows and movies are influencing travellers to see places they may not have thought of before. Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joined The Last Word to chat about some incredible holiday destinations that feature in TV and film. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

This week for The Week Trending Matt is joined by Journalist Lise Hand and Managing Director of the Communications Clinic Eoghan Tomás McDermott. They discuss the 'lion' spotted in County Clare, people cloning their pets, Zohran Mamdani's historic election win and much more. Hit Play on this page to listen now

Republic of Ireland Footballer & Diabetes Ireland Ambassador Jake O'Brien sits down with Matt to discuss how he manages his diabetes while playing elite sport. Hit Play on this page to listen now.

Jackie McCarthy O'Brien is a Limerick sporting legend, a former Ireland international soccer and rugby player. Jackie joined Matt in studio to talk about her life in sport, being separated from her mother at a young age and dealing with racism in Ireland. Jackie recently published her memoir, We Made It Kid: Living Life In Full Colour. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on thi...

Climate scientists have criticised billionaire Bill Gates for comments he made on climate change last week. Gates published a 17-page memo in which he called for a “strategic pivot” away from reducing emissions. He also went on to say that global warming “will not lead to humanity’s demise”. Elsewhere, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin is among the world leaders attending COP30 in Brazil this week. But...

Presenter, writer and passionate advocate for the Irish language, Hector Ó hEochagáin was the latest inductee into the Culture Club. He spoke to Matt about his latest book, An Irish Word A Day and explained where his love for Irish came from. He also discussed his favourite music, films, books, TV and more. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

The Department of Finance this week published a major report which looks to provide a long-term economic and fiscal outlook for Ireland, set out over four decades. 'Future Forty: A Fiscal and Economic Outlook to 2065' projects falling tax revenues, an ageing population and no immediate end to the housing crisis. Daniel McConnell, editor of the Business Post, Kate English, chief economist with Delo...

AIB, PTSB and Bank of Ireland were responsible for 93% of new mortgage lending in September 2025, which is considerably higher than the 60% figure reported in 2018. Does this suggest that Ireland’s banking system is dysfunctional? Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent, spoke to Matt on Wednesday. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

As the annual John Lewis Christmas advert was released, Dee Reddy and John Caddell discussed the change in direction, as Alice Limerick's Where Love Lives was the chosen soundtrack. They also debated whether album charts are obsolete and talked about a series of secret gigs from Spotify's 'billionaires cub', as Ed Sheeran surprised fans in Dublin for an intimate concert at the RDS. To catch the fu...

Former US vice president Dick Cheney, who served under President George W Bush from 2001 to 2009, has died aged 84. Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone joined The Last Word to discuss Cheney's legacy and more of the latest news from the United States. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Earlier this year, Richard Satchwell was found guilty of the murder of his wife Tina in 2017. Journalists Ralph Riegel and Paul Byrne have released a new book called “Beneath the Stairs”, in which they explore the details surrounding Tina’s disappearance and death, Richard’s appearances in the media appealing for information and the court case that followed after her body was discovered. Ralph Rie...

Broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan spoke to Matt about her new memoir Miriam: Life, Work, Everything. She spoke about her 30 year career at RTÉ, juggling family life and taking on Facebook over fake ads. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Former Kilkenny hurler DJ Carey has been jailed for five and a half years for defrauding 22 people by falsely claiming he was receiving treatment for cancer. Mr. Carey conned his victims out of almost €400,000 and has repaid €44,200 of it. Frank Greaney, Today FM’s Courts Correspondent, spoke to Matt on Monday. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Russell Alford, co-restaurant critic for the Sunday Times and one-half of the GastroGays, joined The Last Word to chat about more holiday destinations for food lovers. This time he told us all about Glasgow in Scotland and Krakow in Poland. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Ireland will play New Zealand at Soldier Field in Chicago on Saturday night in a repeat fixture of Ireland's memorable 40-29 win in 2016. Billy Holland, Paul Wallace and Matt Williams previewed the game on Friday's The Last Word. Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the piece.

Is having a boyfriend embarrassing? A Vogue article, which went viral this week, has claimed that women are increasingly keeping their relationship under wraps. Cathal O’Sullivan, 98FM producer, and Emily Keegan, multimedia reporter with Today FM, joined The Last Word to discuss this and more of the week's trending stories. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Frank Greaney, Today FM courts correspondent, and Eimear Ni Bhraonain, author of The Dodger: DJ Carey and the Great Betrayal, were at the sentencing hearing of DJ Carey. The former Kilkenny hurling legend will be sentenced on Monday after he admitted defrauding 13 people by claiming he needed money to pay for cancer treatment. Judge Martin Nolan said a custodial sentence was inevitable. To catch t...

Writer Michael Harding joined The Last Word to discuss his new book 'Midwinter: A Journey Through a Season' which explores the cycle of death and renewal that winter brings. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Writer and comedian Ben Elton joined The Last Word to discuss his new memoir 'What Have I Done?'. He spoke about his reflections on his career, the death of studio sitcoms like 'Blackadder', and why he wishes the internet had never been invented. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!