The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Earlier this week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that Ireland should explore the idea of using nuclear power in order to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Fianna Fáil TD James O'Connor has introduced a bill to reverse the ban and it is due to be debated in the Dáil in the coming months. Dr. Paul Deane, senior lecturer in Clean Energy Futures at UCC and Senator Malcolm Noonan of the Green Party...

This week on The Week Trending TodayFm News Reporter Emily Keegan and head of training at the Communications Clinic Lorcan Nyhan join Matt to discuss the news of the week. They discuss a decline in marriages, Ireland's growing tipping culture and more Hit Play on this page to listen now

As the latest series of The Late Late Show comes to an end, rumours of Patrick Kielty’s exit have swirled throughout the week. If he did step aside, could RTE use it as a chance to freshen the show up, and who would be the best candidate to take over as host? Brenda Power, columnist with the Irish Daily Mail and Elaine Burke, The Last Word's TV & Streaming contributor & host of the Fo...

Over the next four weeks, researchers at the Trinity Centre for Transport Research are surveying the opinions of M50 users on how congestion on the motorway impacts their daily lives and what solutions they would like to see. Professor Brian Caulfield, professor of transportation at Trinity College Dublin, joins The Last Word to discuss why the M50 has become so congested and some of the options t...

Filmmaker David Gleeson joins The Last Word to discuss his latest feature film 'Once Upon A Time In A Cinema' which is based on his own family's experience of running cinemas in rural Ireland. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Cara O’Doherty joins Matt on The Last Word to review the much-anticipated The Devil Wears Prada 2, starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt. How does it compare to the first film, which was released 20 years ago? Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear their chat.

With the news that the Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is pulling out of funding LIV golf, many are questioning if this spells the end Sports writer Kieran Cunningham joins Matt to discuss Hit Play on this page to listen now

John Gibbons joins Matt to discuss the biggest stories of the week for The Last Word on the Environment. They discuss the Nature Restoration Plan, solar panels and more Hit Play on this page to listen now

This week, Tánaiste Simon Harris expressed concern about Artificial Intelligence deepfakes after a 'highly convincing' video falsely portraying him as endorsing investment products circulated online. Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to discuss how to spot a deepfake and a new free online course that aims to upskill people in AI. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Designer Peter O'Brien joins Matt for this week’s Culture Club on The Last Word. Peter is participating in this year’s ‘Incognito’ campaign, which is Ireland's biggest online art sale in aid of the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation taking place on May 20th. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear his choices.

Professor of Psychology and Author Katriona O'Sullivan joins Matt to discuss her new book Hungry: A Biography of My Body She gives us a sense of the book and how it deals with her lifelong journey to loving her body Hit Play on this page to listen now

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris joins The Last Word to discuss the government's response to the ongoing fuel crisis. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Author Lesley Bond sits down with Matt to discuss her new memoir Blasket Bound. We hear about her once-in-a-lifetime experience working as caretaker on the uninhabited Blasket islands Hit Play on this page to listen now.

As the fallout continues from Saturday's shooting incident White House Correspondents' Dinner, US late night host Jimmy Kimmel has defended a joke, which aired days before the event, in which he called Melania Trump an "expectant widow". Cal Thomas and 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' bu...

Fianna Fáil TD and former Kilkenny hurler Peter 'Chap' Cleere is calling for the introduction of a 20% tax relief on children’s sports memberships as he says some families face spending up to €1,500 a year when they have several children involved in sport. The Carlow-Kilkenny TD joins The Last Word to discuss the measure, which he will be pushing for in October's budget. Catch the full chat by pre...

The disappearance of Tina Satchwell in March 2017 from her home in Youghal, Co. Cork was one that gripped the nation. Her husband, Richard, was convicted of her murder in May 2025. Barry Cummins, journalist and author of ‘Buried Secrets: The Murder of Tina Satchwell and a Journalist’s Journey into Ireland’s Most Chilling Cold Case’, recounts the case and the road Tina’s family faced when trying to...

The world record for fastest marathon was broken as two runners finished in London in under two hours Sabastian Sawe finished the race in 1 hour 59 minutes and 30 seconds. Matt is joined by Athletics Journalist Cathal Dennehy to talk about what this means for the future and whether our eyebrows should be raised. Hit Play on this page to listen now

King Charles and Queen Camilla have begun their visit to the US in the wake of the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Joining Matt with the latest on the visit is LBC presenter Nick Ferrari Hit Play on this page to listen now

This week on The Last Word on Travel Sarah Slattery of takes us through the top tips for Marrakech She brings us all you need to know when planning a trip to the Moroccan city Hit Play on this page to listen now

The Government is looking at providing one-off payments for energy saving home upgrades such as heat pumps and efficient cars to help households become less reliant on fossil fuels amid the current global fuel crisis. Philip Hannon, chief executive of the Alliance for Zero Carbon Heating, and Muireann Lynch, senior research officer at the ESRI, join The Last Word to discuss the latest proposals be...

This week for The Week Trending, Matt is joined by Journalist Kate Henshaw and Managing Director at the Communications Clinic Eoghan McDermott to discuss the weeks biggest stories. They discuss a potential return to school from home, Ryder Cup ticket prices and more Hit Play on this page to listen now

Photographer Ruth Medjber is well known for her music photography and her distinctive portraits, but in 2026 she has taken on a whole new challenge. For 365 days, Ruth is travelling around Ireland, meeting new people, taking their photo and recording their story. Ruth joins The Last Word to chat all about her project 'Sin Scéal Eile' Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

New figures obtained by The Irish Times has shown that the number of United States troops travelling through Shannon Airport increased by almost 80% before and during the US' attacks on Iran. Conor Gallagher, Crime & Security Correspondent with the Irish Times, joins Matt to explain the significance of the situation. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

The Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' is out in cinemas this weekend. The film, which is predicted to have the biggest opening weekend of any music biopic, follows the star's rise to fame with the Jackson 5 through to his hugely successful solo career but ends just before child abuse allegations against Jackson began to come to light. Brian Lloyd joins The Last Word to review 'Michael' as well as t...

This week on The Last Word on the Environment, John Gibbons tells us how climate change is making your hayfever worse They also discuss the government's environmental strategy and much more Hit Play on this page to listen now