The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Actor Owen Roe is the latest inductee into The Last Word Culture Club. He talks to Matt about his latest role in RTÉ's series, The Hardacres. He also talks about his cultural touchstones in music, literature, TV and film. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

This weekend, Rory McIlroy will hope to become only the fourth man in history to successfully defend the green jacket. Gavin Cooney, journalist with the 42.ie, joins The Last Word to look ahead to the 2026 Masters tournament. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The US and Iran struck a deal late on Tuesday for a two-week ceasefire to allow negotiations to proceed and to see the Strait of Hormuz reopened. However, Israel has continued to bombard Lebanon, one of Iran's key allies, raising concerns about how long this peace can last. Fawaz Gerges, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics, journalist Marion McKeone, and Tom Wrig...

Last Friday, U2 released a 6-track EP “Easter Lily”. It follows the band’s previous EP “Days of Ash”, which came out in February and was deemed some of the most politically-charged records of their career. So, what can we expect this time round? Meanwhile, Wireless Festival 2026 has been cancelled after Kanye West, who was due to headline all 3 nights, was banned from travelling to the UK due to p...

Professor Ian Robertson, Neuropsychologist and author of How Confidence Works, explains why we are experiencing a rise in displays of toxic overconfidence and what parts of society are being affected. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

US President Donald Trump has threatened that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran does not agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss Trump's chilling threats towards Iran and more of the latest news from the United States. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Congestion and commuting issues are becoming increasingly prominent across towns and cities in Ireland. What options are available to those who have to travel long distances on a regular basis? Geraldine Herbert, Motoring Editor with the Sunday Independent, speaks to Matt on The Last Word about how we could reduce the number of private cars on the road every day. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page...

More people are drinking alcohol at home instead of going to the pub, according to new research from Drinkaware. Dearbhla O’Brien, chief executive of Drinkaware, joins The Last Word to discuss how Irish drinking culture has changed since the Covid-19 pandemic. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Last year, Rory McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam when he won The Masters at Augusta after a rollercoaster weekend. But why are sports fans so drawn to McIlroy, and can winning the green jacket propel him to further greatness for the remainder of his career? Journalist Alan Shipnuck has released a new book called "Rory: The Heartache and Triumph of Golf's Most Human Superstar", in which he t...

Singer David Kitt joins Matt for this week’s Culture Club on The Last Word. David is celebrating the release of “The Big Romance (Kittser’s Version)”, which is a new version of the original “The Big Romance” album, which came out 25 years ago. The record features some new tracks along with reworkings of some of his classics. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

Journalist Ronan McGreevy joins The Last Word to discuss his new book 'Seán Lemass: The Lost Memoir', a biography that is largely based on 22 hours of recorded interviews with the former Taoiseach. The memoir looks at Lemass' early life, including the shooting of his infant brother and his role in the War of Independence, as well as his time in politics from 1923 to 1966. Catch the full chat with...

A Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Survey has shown that many consumers are bracing themselves for their finances to take a hit as the war in the Middle East continues to impact the economy. So, what options are available to us to ensure we’re getting the best value for money? Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent, speaks to Matt on The Last Word. Hit the ‘Play’ button...

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has warned that there will be disruptions to the supply of jet fuel by early May if the Iran war continues. Paul Hackett, vice-president of Irish Travel Agents Association, and Shona Murray, Europe correspondent with Euro News, join The Last Word to discuss the impact OF the war on air travel, measures the EU may employ to deal with the worsening fuel crisis, and Donald...

'All Them Dogs' by Djamel White is one of the most eagerly anticipated Irish debut novels of 2026. It follows a young man who returns to west Dublin and a life of gangland crime following a period abroad. He finds himself working closely with an enforcer for a local crime boss and it soon becomes apparent that there is mutual attraction between the pair. Djamel joins The Last Word to discuss his d...

Amid the ongoing war in Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said that high-ranking Iranian officials were killed because they “strung” President Donald Trump’s administration along in efforts to end the conflict. 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' button o...

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said that the government needs to take action to combat the impact of inflation on workers and the unemployed in Ireland. The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) showed that prices rose by 3.6% in March of this year, an increase from 2.5% in February. General Secretary of ICTU, Owen Reidy, speaks to Matt about his concerns on The Last Word. Hit the ‘Pl...

On Sunday, Donegal were 3-20 to 2-10 winners over Kerry to win the National Football League for only the second time in their history. Have Jim McGuinness’ side laid down a marker for the rest of the season, and how much can we read into Kerry’s performance given how many of their players from last year’s All-Ireland final didn't feature? Ray Silke and Will O’Callaghan also speak to Matt about whe...

Ireland’s World Cup play-off semi-final vs Czechia attracted an average of 1.37 viewers last Thursday night, with peak numbers hitting 1.6m just as the penalty shootout came to an end. Elsewhere, the new trailer for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was watched 277 million times within the first 48 hours of release, which is more than double of HBO's previous record held by Euphoria. But is...

Shorter school days and more breaks for students have been recommended by the Oireachtas education committee, which recently looked at how Ireland could make the shift to a more holistic education model, similar to Finland. Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe, chair of the Oireachtas education committee, joins The Last Word to discuss what's in the Finnish model and how it could be incorporated into the I...

Sarah Slattery, thetravelexpert.ie, has all the last minute getaway deals for April, with trips including Sorento, Marrakesh and Mediterranean cruises. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

On Thursday night, Ireland's hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup ended after they lost to Czechia on penalties in the playoff semi-final at the Fortuna Arena in Prague. Heimir Hallgrimsson's side went 2-0 up early in the game but they will have regrets about how they allowed the Czechs back into the contest. Gavin Cooney of The42.ie and former Ireland international Tony Cascarino speak to M...

Heartbreak for the Boys in Green after loss to Czechia in penalties brings Ireland's world cup dreams to an end. Pop star Chappell Roan faces significant online backlash following accusations that a security guard berated a young fan. And Barry Keoghan opens up about the impact of online abuse targeting his appearance. Dion Fanning, host of The Free State podcast, and broadcaster Fionnuala Jones j...

Stephen Colbert will sign off as host of The Late Show in the United States later this year but it appears he won't have much down time as he is set to adapt the next movie in The Lord of the Rings franchise. Brian Lloyd joins The Last Word to chat about this news and also to review the latest movie releases including Project Hail Mary starring Ryan Gosling. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Pl...

Younger people in Ireland are joining Alcoholics Anonymous. Ahead of an event in Galway, Matt talks to Melanie and John, two members of Ireland Young People in AA, about their journeys to recovery from alcoholism. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Since March, bomb and missile strikes have released a mix of chemicals and other pollutants into the air in the Middle East, which experts have said could cause decades-long health and environmental damage. Commentator John Gibbons speaks to Matt on The Last Word. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.