The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Journalist and author Martin Dillon joins The Last Word to discuss the role played by women in the Troubles and the toll it took on them, as described in his new book 'The Sorrow and the Loss'. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Roe McDermott, Movies Editor with Hotpress, joined Matt for this week’s movies slot on The Last Word. She predicted who she thinks will win big at Sunday night’s Academy Awards and discussed the release of “The Last Showgirl” starring Pamela Anderson. Matt and Roe also remembered the Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, whose death was announced on Thursday morning alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa. H...

Following the introduction of several conservation measures, the number of brown bears has risen by 17% across Europe since 2016. Experts have seen a 12% rise in the Eurasian lynx and a 16% jump in the number of wolverines over the same time period. Environment commentator John Gibbons joined Matt on Thursday to discuss this. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

At GAA Congress in Donegal last weekend, president Jarlath Burns described rural depopulation as “a full-blown crisis” for the association. Speaking at the event, Mr. Burns said “it is unconscionable that we would be the generation who preside over the permanent demise of rural Ireland.” So, what can the GAA do to ensure rural clubs in Ireland survive? Michael Foley, sportswriter with The Sunday T...

To celebrate the release of his new book “The Boy From The Sea”, author Garrett Carr was The Last Word’s latest entry to the Culture Club. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear his choices.

Glanbia's share price fell by around 20% today as the nutrition company predicts its 2025 profits will take a battering, 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!

Leinster and Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll joined Matt on Wednesday to talk about Ireland’s win against Wales in round 3 of the Guinness Six Nations, and what they need to improve on ahead of the huge clash with France at the Aviva Stadium. They discussed what Ireland’s bench might look like, their struggles at the scrum, and Jack Conan’s impressive tournament so far. Brian spoke to The Last Wor...

A new survey has found that most people are not willing to pay more for a transition to renewable energy. Charlie Weston, personal finance editor with the Irish Independent, joins The Last Word to discuss why people might not want to fund a green future. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Matt talks to Zara, a Focus Ireland Ambassador about her experience accessing the services of the homelessness charity and how she was helped in securing the future of her family. To listen to the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Gabija Gataveckaite, political correspondent with the Irish Independent, and Peadar Toibin, leader of Aontú, join The Last Word as it has been revealed that a scanner at the National Gallery, which cost almost €125,000, has been lying idle for eight years. Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Jack Chambers also joins to Matt to discuss the ‘huge frustration and anger’ among taxpayers over co...

French President Emmanuel Macron met with President Donald Trump at the White House this week and the two leaders clashed over how much money each has given to Ukraine. Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated columnist, and journalist Marion McKeone joins The Last Word to discuss the latest news from the United States. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

A new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute says that there was a strong link between the number of cases of Covid-19 reported daily and the efforts the Irish public made to reduce the spread of infection. Professor Pete Lunn, Research Professor at the ESRI spoke to Matt about these findings, and how attitudes and behavioural patterns towards the pandemic varied among different so...

Thinking of heading to Australia and not sure where to start? Kaitlin Murphy from the travelexpert.ie has just returned from spending a year down under. She joins The Last Word to run through everything you should know before you go, including visa requirements, the best places to live, how to find a job and how life in Australia compares to Ireland. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' butt...

Ireland came from behind to beat Wales on Saturday and set up what is being billed as the title decider for this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations. Matt spoke to Will O’Callaghan from Off The Ball and Matt Williams about Ireland’s performance, squad fitness ahead of Round 4, and France’s impressive victory over Italy. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

In a recent interview with the Sunday Times, Garda Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary said he wants to make increasing the number of guards on the streets of Dublin a priority. Gary Gannon, Social Democrats TD for Dublin North Central & spokesperson for Justice and Catherine Ardagh, Fianna Fail TD for Dublin South Central, spoke to Matt about what they think needs to be done to make the city's...

Pope Francis' health scare leaves many wondering if he will resign, living in a cabin in the garden, and the future of the James Bond franchise. Fionnuala Jones and Dave Hanratty join The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Elon Musk took to the stage in Washington this week and showed off a chainsaw given to him by Argentina’s president Javier Milei. Musk went on to say that it was his “chainsaw for bureaucracy”, whilst also wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat. Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at University of Galway & Columnist with TheJournal.ie joined Matt on Friday’s The Last Word. Hit the ‘Play’ button on...

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne joins The Last Word to discuss measures being considered by government to boost homebuilding and address the housing crisis. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to discuss how artificial intelligence is evolving and how soon we could see a version of AI that adapts and learns like humans. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Ian Guider, columnist with The Business Post, joins Matt to discuss all the big business headlines from Wednesday. IDA Ireland plans to deliver 75,000 new jobs in their five year plan, amid economic and political uncertainty Listen here for all the latest business news

Ahead of the release of his new show Small Town, Big Story on Sky Atlantic, actor Chris O’Dowd was the latest guest to be inducted into The Last Word’s Culture Club. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear his choices.

Government is expected to announce changes to the €800 tax-free payment given to those hosting Ukrainian refugees in the coming weeks. Of the 80,000 Ukrainians still in Ireland, more than 36,000 are living in private accommodation under the Accommodation Recognition Payment scheme which is due to expire on March 31st. Emma Lane Spollen, national coordinator with the Ukraine Civil Society Forum, an...

The government is said to be considering relaxing planning rules on modular homes in back gardens in the latest effort to ease Ireland’s housing crisis. Minister of State at the Department of Housing, John Cummins and Martin Markey, Chief Executive of the Hardware Association of Ireland spoke to Matt on Wednesday’s The Last Word. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

The United States and Russia have agreed to have closer cooperation and continue planning an end to the war in Ukraine following a meeting of officials in Saudi Arabia. Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated US columnist, and journalist Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss this and more of the week’s news from the United States. Catch the full conversation by pressing the ‘Play’ button on this...

More than 80,000 homes are lying vacant in Ireland despite the ongoing housing crisis, according to new analysis from An Post. Jude Sherry, director of Anois, and Orla Hegarty, architect & assistant professor at the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy at UCD, join The Last Word to discuss what could be done to get many of these empty properties back in to use. Catch the f...