The Last Word with Matt Cooper

In 1972, American boxing champion Muhammad Ali, the most famous athlete in the world, came to Ireland to fight in Croke Park. Dave Hannigan, author of 'The Big Fight : When Ali Conquered Ireland', joins The Last Word to discuss how he pieced together the details of one of the most unique events in Irish sporting history. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Environmentalist and Researcher in Climate Policy, Sadhbh O’Neill, recently made the decision to sell her car and buy an e-bike. She spoke to Matt on Thursday’s The Last Word to explain why and to highlight the financial, physical and environmental benefits she has seen from doing so over the last 6 months. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

Fianna Fáil Senator Teresa Costello has said that radical reform is needed for women under the age of 50 who present with breast cancer symptoms, having previously been diagnosed with the disease at the age of 36. Ahead of Daffodil Day 2025, she is calling on the Minister for Health to discuss the matter in the Seanad. Hit the ‘Play’ button to hear her chat with Matt.

Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to run through some of the best new driving tech including easy to read smart navigation and top of the range dash cams, Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page

Writer Patricia Scanlan is the latest inductee into The Last Word Culture Club, where she talks about the music, books, TV and movies that have influenced her life and work. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Energy supplier Energia has been given the go-ahead to build a data centre in Dublin to be operated by tech giant, Microsoft. Ian Guider, columnist with the Business Post, joins The Last Word to discuss this and more of the day's business news. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The CSO has released a survey showing the long term impact the experience of living through the Covid-19 pandemic has made. Five years on, one in four people who were surveyed said they still try to avoid shaking hands, while a third of respondents between the ages of 22 and 29 said that their alcohol consumption increased since Covid restrictions were introduced. Tim Bergin, People Consulting Par...

There's outrage in the United States after a journalist was included in a group chat in which US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and other top officials discussed upcoming strikes against Yemen's Houthi group. Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated US columnist, and journalist Marion McKeone joins The Last Word to discuss this massive security leak and more of the latest news fr...

On Monday, gardaí conducted raids on members of a Dublin-based drugs gang known as The Family. The Irish Times reported that the gardaí’s National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau has been investigating the group for up to a decade. Conor Lally, Crime and Security Editor with The Irish Times, joined Ian Guider on The Last Word to explain the story. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the co...

Elaine Burke and Joe O’Shea discuss the four-part Netflix drama, Adolescence, written by and starring Stephen Graham, that is being watched all over the world. Dealing with toxic influences in teenaged lives, Joe and Elaine talk about why they think it’s an era defining drama.

Ireland beat Bulgaria 2-1 (4-2 on aggregate) in the Aviva Stadium on Sunday night which retains their status in League B in the Nations League. Gavin Cooney, Sportswriter with The42.ie and Off The Ball’s Will O’Callaghan spoke to Matt about a positive few days for Heimir Hallgrimsson, Evan Ferguson getting on the scoresheet again and how these results can benefit Ireland’s World Cup qualifying pro...

Has medicine gone too far in diagnosing disorders like autism, ADHD or even long Covid? Can these diagnoses sometimes hinder a person more than they help? Neurologist Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan joins The Last Word to discuss the dangers of over medicalisation as explored in her new book 'The Age of Diagnosis'. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Following his St Patrick's Day White House visit, Conor McGregor has said he will run for president of Ireland this year; Tesla cars are being boycott in protest against Elon Musk; and what countries are the happiest? Laura Byrne, voices editor and podcast producer with TheJournal.ie, and Eoghan Tomás McDermott, managing director of The Communication Clinic, join The Last Word to discuss the week'...

A teacher has claimed that she was wrongly identified as the so-called “GAA Catfish”, and has secured a short term injunction restraining her employer from continuing a disciplinary process against her. The story was originally told on The 2 Johnnies podcast and detailed how a woman was using fake online profiles to dupe men into romantic relationships. Carl O’Brien, Education Editor with The Iris...

In his latest book, high performance coach Gerry Hussey examines the power of the inner voice and how to silence the criticisms that are holding you back from your dreams. Gerry joins The Last Word to discuss his new book 'I Am, I Can, I Will'. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

A jury in North Dakota has ordered Greenpeace to pay $660m to the company Energy Transfer after finding it liable for defamation over protests that took place in 2016 & 2017. After the verdict, Greenpeace said that lawsuits such as this are “destroying the right to peaceful protest”. John Gibbons joined Matt for Thursday’s environment slot on The Last Word. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page t...

Andy O'Donoghue runs through a comprehensive list of alternatives to Amazon streaming, smart home, shopping and audiobook offerings. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

The Government will miss its own housing targets over the next three years, according to new analysis from the Central Bank. Ian Guider, columnist with the Business Post, joins The Last Word to discuss why housing delivery is likely to fall short in the coming years and more of the day's business news. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody has released his first book “The Forest is the Path”, sharing its name with the band’s latest studio album. To celebrate its release, Gary joined Matt for the latest edition of The Last Word’s Culture Club. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear all his choices.

Leaving Cert English students could face oral exams worth 20 per cent at the end of fifth year, with the written exam reducing from two papers to one by 2027. There are further plans to introduce a creative writing task, where students will be tasked with writing an original piece during class time. Jennifer Horgan, English teacher and Irish Examiner Columnist and Brian Mooney, Irish Times Educati...

US President Donald Trump has had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine. Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated US columnist, and journalist 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!

There was much surprise on St Patrick's Day when MMA fighter Conor McGregor met with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office just days after Taoiseach Micheál Martin's visit. Dion Fanning, co-host of the Free State podcast, and Gary Murphy, professor of politics at DCU's School of Law and Government, join The Last Word to discuss why McGregor was invited to the White House and whether it coul...

Amazon.ie was officially launched in Ireland on Tuesday, where Irish users are no longer obliged to use Amazon.co.uk . The subscription price is €6.99, which is lower than Amazon.co.uk ’s £8.99 (€11), but can users get the same experience for cheaper? Furthermore, what will this move mean for smaller businesses around the country? Adrian Weckler, Tech Correspondent with the Irish Independent and J...

Author and journalist Donald McRae has written his latest book “The Last Bell: Life, Death and Boxing”. He’s followed the careers of some of the biggest names in the sport, including Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury and Katie Taylor. But after 50 years of covering boxing so intently, why did he find himself falling out of love with it? Donald joined Will O’Callaghan on Friday’s The Last Word. Hit the ‘P...

Manchester United unveils plan to build a new stadium beside Old Trafford, gardaí prepare for St Patrick's Day in Dublin and was the Taoiseach's trip to the White House a success? Joe O’Shea, editor of Cork Beo, and Sinead O’Carroll, editor of TheJournal.ie, join The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!