The Last Word with Matt Cooper

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 Ronan by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

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 on this page to hear the piece.

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 Trump's latest threat to withdraw the US from Nato.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

'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 debut novel and his journey to publication.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

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 on this page!

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 ‘Play' button on this page to hear the piece.

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 whether Michael Murphy should have been sent off after his strike on Kerry's Dylan Casey, and whether the hooter should be removed before the start of Championship.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear the piece.

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 a Harry Potter TV series really needed?Joe O'Shea and Elaine Burke join Matt for The Last Word on TV & Streaming.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear their chat.

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 Irish education system.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

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 Matt about the result.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the piece.

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 join The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories. Catch the full chat by pressing the play button on this page!

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 'Play' button on this page!

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.

Andy O'Donoghue explains the legal action being taken by Sky to crack down on the end users of dodgy boxes.He also has all the details of two historic courtroom showdowns in the US. A jury in LA has found that Meta and Youtube designed addictive products. A New Mexico jury ruled that Meta deliberately misled the public about the safety of its apps while ignoring internal warnings and enabling child sexual exploitation.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

To mark five years of his weekly environment slot, John Gibbons joins The Last Word for the Culture Club.He chats to Matt about his favourite music, books, movies and more.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The latest completion date for the new national children's hospital will not be met, making it the 18th time that the deadline has been missed, the Oireachtas health committee has been told. Shauna Bowers, Irish Times' health correspondent, and Dr Paul Davis from DCU's Business School join The Last Word to discuss why the deadline for substantial completion of the hospital continues to be missed and who is responsible.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Temporary reductions on fuel taxes came into effect at midnight on Wednesday, with the price of diesel and petrol dropping by 20c and 15c per litre respectively.But will customers have to wait even longer before they feel the benefits?Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent, speaks to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear the chat.

This week, Donald Trump claimed that the USA is in talks with Iran to end the war in the Middle East. But are these claims to be believed?Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone speak to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear the piece.

Rory Carroll, Ireland Correspondent for the Guardian, speaks to Matt about his book A Rebel And A Traitor: A Fugitive, the Manhunt and the Birth of the IRA. His forensic look at Roger Casement's life, shines a new light on the two year chase of the former diplomat before his arrest in 1916.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Colm O'Regan, comedian and author of Gallivanting With Words: How The Irish Speak English, discusses the latest Irish additions to the Oxford English Dictionary.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

New rules for switching mortgages in Ireland were introduced on Tuesday which will see lenders having to clearly explain switching options and send reminders to holders about cheaper options on the market.Michael Dowling, Managing Director at Michael Dowling Mortgage and Financial Services, explains how this will work for customers on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear the piece.

Novelist Mary Costello joins Matt to discuss her latest book, A Beautiful Loan. The book focuses on the life of Anna Hughes, a teacher in Dublin and the interior and exterior forces that shape her, including her decades long marriage, and it's later break down.Mary also discusses the role of Carl Jung in her life and in the book, and broader issues around morality and the future of humanity. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

On Sunday, the death of broadcaster Michael Lyster was announced.Lyster was a hugely popular figure and was best known for presenting The Sunday Game on RTE for over 30 years.Joe O'Shea and Elaine Burke speak to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear the piece.

Thousands of Irish soccer fans are expected to descend on the city of Prague this week ahead of Ireland's World Cup play-off clash with Czechia.Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to run through the best sites, restaurants and bars in the Czech capital. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

There was outrage this week after a float referencing the Jeffery Epstein files featured in several St Patrick's Day parades. The NTA has asked the public for their opinions on allowing pets on public transport. And demolition has begun on a house in Co Meath following a 20-year legal row.Cathal O'Sullivan, producer on 98fm, and Roe McDermott, journalist and Irish Times columnist, join The Last Word to discuss these stories and more in The Week Trending.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Three victims of Provisional IRA bombings have dropped their civil action against former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams on the final day of the trial in London.Mark Hennessy, Ireland and Britain editor for The Irish Times, joins The Last Word to discuss the surprise development in this case. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Andy O'Donoghue runs through the newest entrant to the online banking market, Monzo. He also talks about the pros and cons of Revolut and Zippay.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Author Liz Nugent speaks to Matt on The Last Word to celebrate the release of her new book “The Truth About Ruby Cooper”, in which an incident involving Ruby and her sister's boyfriend leads to the family dynamic being torn apart.Liz chats to Matt about the release of her sixth novel and what it takes to hook readers in from the very beginning, how attached she gets to her characters and how real-life experiences influence those shown in her writing.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear the piece.

Psychotherapist and broadcaster Richie Sadlier has launched a new digital teaching programme to help schools deliver social personal health education (SPHE) in line with the new compulsory curriculum.He joins The Last Word to chat about 'Let's Talk SPHE' and why it is important for students to see their peers speaking openly about wellbeing and relationships.Catch the full conversation by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

A national survey on the Hot School Meals Scheme found that 78% of respondents said their children did not enjoy the variety of meals on offer, while 64% didn't believe the food was nutritional. There were also calls for a cold option, and different portion sizes.Fine Gael Senator Linda Nelson Murray talks to Matt about the findings of her survey into the Hot School Meals Scheme. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Playwright and actor Pat Kinevane joins Matt for this week's Culture Club on The Last Word.Pat has written and is touring five solo productions across the country in 2026: Forgotten, Silent, Underneath, Before and King. They tackle topics such as aging, homelessness and parenting and are inspired by Pat's personal experiences or the experiences of those close to him.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear his picks.

Columnist Cal Thomas and Larry Donnelly, lecturer in law at the University of Galway, join The Last Word to discuss the latest developments in Trump's Iran war and look back at Taoiseach Micheál Martin's St Patrick's Day visit to the White House.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

This week on The Last Word on TV & Streaming Matt is joined by Elaine Burke, Joe O'Shea and Kate Henshaw. They discuss Jessie Buckley's historic win at the Oscars, Conan O'Brien as host and all the rest of the news from the awards. Plus they chat about Joe and Elaine's Picks of the WeekHit Play on this page to listen now

A new documentary exploring the growth and success of Ryanair is set to air on RTE One on Monday night.The aviation company, now valued at an estimated €30bn, was founded in 1984. Its low-cost travel model made air travel more accessible than ever before.Michael Corcoran, former head of social media for Ryanair and contributor to "Turbulence: The Story Of Ryanair", speaks to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear the piece.

Can you find value for money on holidays in Ireland?Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to run through a selection of great value domestic breaks suitable for couples and families.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The Trump administration has been blasted for releasing hype videos with clips from Hollywood films as part of its messaging about the war in Iran. Critics have accused the White House of trying to make the conflict look like a video game.Aoife Barry, journalist and author, and Joe O'Shea, editor of Cork Beo, join The Last Word to discuss this and more of the week's trending stories. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Journalist and Author Dave Hannigan has released his latest book “We Need To Talk About Roy - The Keanification of Modern Ireland”, in which he explores Ireland's obsession with one of Cork's most famous sons and how his life mirrors that of the development of Irish society in the last 5 decades.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear his chat with Matt on The Last Word.

Minister for Housing James Browne announced that the government intends to loosen existing rules around one-off homes in rural Ireland for people facing difficulties around planning permission.But is this the most environmentally friendly approach?Commentator John Gibbons gives his thoughts to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear the piece.

Human rights lawyer David Haigh joins The Last Word to discuss the harsh reality behind Dubai's ‘paradise' image amid the ongoing Iran conflict.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Musician and composer Colm Mac Con Iomaire, is the latest inductee into the Last Word Culture Club.He talks to Matt about being a founding member of The Frames (numbers 92 and 31 in Today FM's 100 Greatest Irish Songs) and working with The Swell Season before launching his solo career. Colm also discusses his favourite movies, books and music, including a once in a lifetime festival at Tramore in 1993.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.