The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Buying your first home may seem impossible sometimes, and you may find yourself asking questions like; how can I show savings when rent is so expensive? How far back will I have to go when showing my bank statements? What if there are loads of “nights-out” transactions on those statements? Will I get approved to buy a doer-upper? Buying your first home can be an incredibly overwhelming experience,...

A new survey from the Residential Tenancies Board has found that the average cost of rent has risen significantly in the last three years. Lorcan Sirr, Senior Housing Lecturer at Technological University Dublin, and Pat Davitt, Chief Executive at the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers, joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Emmet Murphy from The Rademon Estate Distillery joined The Last Word with a list of the best whiskeys and gins to enjoy this Christmas! Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Are we about to see a price war in energy prices? Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with The Irish Independent, joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Ciara Carty,  Director of Services at Focus Ireland, and James Flanagan, Focus Ireland Service User, joined The Last Word to discuss the homelessness crisis and the near 4,000 children affected by it as we move closer to Christmas. Listen by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

One of Ireland's most popular festivals has revealed it's headliners for 2024! John Caddell and Dave Hanratty joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Why are the Republicans trying to impeach Joe Biden? Cal Thomas, Nationally Syndicated Columnist, and Marion McKeone, US Correspondent with The Business Post, joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Journalist Lise Hand, and Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, Paschal Donohoe joined us in studio for their annual rundown of the best non-fiction books of the year! Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Research has found that two fifths of Irish people surveyed believe hate is on the rise. Professor Amanda Haynes, Co-Author with Professor Jennifer Schweppe of Public Understandings of Hate Crime: Ireland, North and South, joined The Last Word to discuss. Listen by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Novelists Edel Coffey and Kevin Power joined The Last Word with a list of the best fiction books of 2023 that you can read over the holidays or give as gifts! Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Retailers are expecting to make about €1.1 billion extra on Christmas spending this year, up 5% on last year. Ian Guider, Business Columnist with The Business Post joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Sarah Slattery from Travelexpert.ie joined The Last Word to discuss some great ideas for travel related gifts this Christmas! Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Priscilla Lynch, Clinic Editor for The Medical Independent joined The Last Word to discuss the recent rise in RSV cases in children's hospitals. Listen by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Vaughan Yates, Founder of TVM, and Alex Morrell, Beverage Director at TVM joined The Last Word to discuss the best non-alcoholic drinks for your festive season! Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Hundreds gather to say goodbye to Shane MacGowan, Swift named person of the year, and baseball caps for Gardaí. Aoife Barry, Journalist and Author of Social Capital, and Lorcan Nyhan, Head of Training at The Communications Clinic joined The Last Word to discuss for The Week Trending Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Gavin Cooney, Journalist with the42.ie , and Michael Foley, Sports Writer with The Sunday Times and Author of The Children of Croke Park, joined The Last Word to discuss the best sports books of 2023! Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Due to an explosion in the population of deer in Ireland, the Government has given the go-ahead to culling in an attempt to control the unsustainable growth of this wild animal. John Gibbons joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland  has estimated that a couple would need a combined salary of €127,000 to buy a house in Dublin in 2023. Edward McCauley, Director of Practice & Policy at the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, and Cian O’Callaghan, TD and Housing Spokesperson with the Social Democrats joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play...

Andy O’Donoghue joined The Last Word for Tech Thursday, to discuss the best tech for pet owners! Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Should tobacco sales be phased out entirely? Mark Murphy, Advocacy Manager for Environmental Health and Tobacco with the Irish Heart Foundation, and Colm Burke, TD and Health Spokesperson for Fine Gael, joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Russell Alford & Patrick Hanlon from Gastrogays & The Sunday Times Ireland, joined The Last Word with their recommendations for the best Christmas cookbooks to get your hands on this festive season! Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

A new survey suggests that many people in Ireland expect to work until the age of 70 before they can afford to retire. Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with The Irish Independent, joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Member of Paul McCartney's Wings, and co-founder of Moody Blues, Denny Laine has died aged 79. John Caddell and Dee Reddy joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Judith Boyle, Beverages Lecturer at TU Dublin joined The Last Word with some fantastic beer recommendations for the festive season! Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Liz Cheney has claimed that if Donald Trump is reelected, the United States would be 'sleepwalking into dictatorship'. Cal Thomas, Nationally Syndicated Columnist, and Marion McKeone, US Correspondent for The Business Post, joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.