The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Terry Prone, author of I’m Glad You Asked Me That, spoke to Matt about her years working as a media trainer for the top political and business leaders in the country. Terry outlined her time working with former Taoiseach Charles Haughey and gave fresh insight into the real man behind the persona. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

On Thursday, Matt spoke to journalists Fintan O’Toole & Sam McBride about the release of their new book “For and Against a United Ireland”. If it came to pass, what would a united Ireland look like? How much of a role would history and religion play for a generation of people who grew up after the Good Friday Agreement came into effect? Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear what Fintan & Sam had to say.

As we come into winter and the days get shorter, it's important that cyclists take precautions while out on roads. Andy O'Donoghue joined The Last Word to discuss the best cycling tech to stay safe and seen this winter. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Michael D Higgins bows out of his two term presidency next month. For some, he leaves a national treasure who spoke from his head and his heart and who, along with his wife Sabina, made the Áras a house of welcome and inclusion. For others, he was a head of state who sometimes pushed too vigorously against the boundaries of his office. But everyone loved his Bernese Mountain dogs. In this final episode of Think You Know...The Presidents?, our dynamic duo, Lise Hand and Flor Mac Carthy take us through the years of 2011 to the present day and look at the life and times of Michael D Higgins.

Composer Jamie Duffy joined Matt for the Culture Club. He spoke about the inspiration for his debut eponymous album, that blends folk, classical and contemporary elements. He also outlined the eclectic range of music he enjoys, along with his other cultural touchstones from the worlds of TV, film and books. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

On Friday, the country goes to the polls to choose who will become the 10th president of Ireland. Fine Gael presidential candidate Heather Humphreys joined The Last Word for an interview ahead of Friday's vote. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

There are "no plans" for US President Donald Trump to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin "in the immediate future", a White House official has stated. The update comes despite Trump saying that he would meet his Russian counterpart in Budapest within two weeks to discuss the war in Ukraine. Marion McKeone and Cal Thomas joined The Last Word to discuss this change and more of the latest news from the United States. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

As the presidential election campaign draws to a close, the two remaining candidates - Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys and Independent Catherine Connolly - are making their final appeals to potential voters. Louise Burne, political correspondent with the Irish Examiner, Professor Gary Murphy, from the School of Law and Government in DCU, and Daniel McConnell, editor of the Business Post, joined The Last Word to assess why this race has struggled to get off the ground and whether anything can change in the last days of the campaign. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

On Friday, the country will go to the polls to vote for the 10th president of Ireland. Independent candidate Catherine Connolly joined Matt in studio for an in-depth interview on Monday's The Last Word. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

From the Ardoyne to two stints in the Áras, Mary McAleese's presidency was shaped by her Northern upbringing and driven by a mission to unite communities. But her efforts to build bridges were often met with anger from some political and religious quarters, while Ireland itself went from the boom-time Celtic Tiger riches to an era of financial bail-outs and austerity. In this episode of Think You Know...The Presidents?, Lise Hand and Flor Mac Carthy are joined once again by Matt Cooper to look at our eighth president, her highs and lows and some of the more memorable events during her term, including Queen Elizabeth II's state visit and those cúpla focail that made all the difference.

This National Brain Tumour Awareness Week, Brain Tumour Ireland is highlighting the symptoms of brain tumours in children and teenagers. Tumours of the brain and central nervous system are the most common childhood cancer, alongside leukaemia, but the symptoms can often be confused for other more common illnesses. Dr Sarah Curry, consultant neuro-oncologist at CHI Crumlin, and Cliona Leamy, mum to eight-year-old Izzy who was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of two, joined The Last Word to discuss the signs that can arise and the challenges some face in getting a diagnosis. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

From weekend hotel stays in Dublin, to Christmas markets in Belfast, Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie, outlined the best Winter travel offers for families and couples looking for an at home break. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Irish swimmer Shane Ryan caused controversy this week when he announced he will be joining the Enhanced Games, which will get underway in May 2026. Participating athletes - of which there are 11 so far - will be permitted to take performance-enhancing drugs throughout the Games. The decision has been widely criticised by sporting bodies around the world. Kieran Cunningham, Chief Sports Writer with the Irish Daily Star, explained the situation on The Last Word. Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the piece.

Now that he has got the Gaza deal he wanted, has US President Donald Trump's attention refocused on Ukraine? Why has an Irish act never won the Mercury Prize? Do you know a weather enthusiast who could help Met Éireann with a major new project? Marion McKeone and Dave Hanratty joined The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

What does a reluctant earl do when he inherits a 1,600-acre estate in Co Meath? Randal Plunkett, the 21st Earl of Dunsany, joined The Last Word to discuss how he transformed his ancestral home into Ireland's biggest private rewilding project. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

A new report by advocacy group Transport and Environment has found that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles emit just 19% less Co2 than petrol and diesel cars, a much lower figure than the originally projected 75%. Environmental commentator John Gibbons spoke to Matt on Thursday’s The Last Word. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

Nicola Tallant, Investigations Editor with the Sunday World and host of the Crime World podcast, spoke to Matt about the release from Limerick Prison of former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall who turned state witness in the Regency murder case. Having served his sentence for torture and false imprisonment of a man and for his part in the shooting of David Byrne, it is expected that Jonathan Dowdall will be relocated abroad and enter the witness protection programme. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

In this episode of Think You Know...The Presidents?, presenters Lise Hand and Flor Mac Carthy get to grips with their own 'girl crush' as they recall Robinson's rocky road to the Áras, when she encountered sexism and misogyny along the campaign trail. Mary Robinson didn't just win the presidency in 1990, she blew the dusty doors off Áras an Uachtaráin. That win was a seismic day for Ireland - we had our first woman president, and Ireland was on the cusp of great change, culturally, socially and economically. Mná na hÉireann finally had a voice.

Former State Pathologist Marie Cassidy spoke to Matt about her second novel, Deadly Evidence, a thriller following the investigative work of a fictional state pathology who must help solve the murder of garda detective. Marie also discussed her favourite music, gigs, books, film, TV and more. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Andrew Porter is best known for playing as a loosehead prop for Leinster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. He has released his autobiography “Heart on My Sleeve: My Story of Struggle and Strength” in which he details how his mother’s death when he was 12 years old impacted his mental health, his subsequent eating disorder and how fatherhood has changed his perspective in every aspect of his life. He spoke to Matt on Wednesday’s The Last Word. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear their chat.