The Last Word with Matt Cooper

On Monday, Donald Trump hosted Benjamin Netanyahu for dinner at the White House and the Israeli prime minister told the US President that he nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.Meanwhile, the death toll from extreme flooding in Texas has now exceeded 100 people, with survivors questioning the authorities’ planning and safety response.Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone spoke to Matt on Tuesday.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

A new report from Irish Music Rights Organisation has found that Irish adults spent €757 on music events in 2024, while two thirds of respondents said that the main barrier to attending gigs is the cost of tickets.Matt spoke to Eleanor McEvoy, Chair of IMRO, about this.Elsewhere, Live Aid will be 40 years old on Sunday and Apple Music has released its top 500 streamed songs of the past decade.Dee Reddy and Dave Hanratty joined Matt for Tuesday’s music slot.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

The Government has been accused of "showing complete disdain" for the heritage of the GPO on Dublin's O'Connell Street amid calls for the building to be redeveloped into a significant cultural quarter.Peadar Toibin, TD for Meath-West and Leader of Aontú, and James Geoghegan, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Bay South, join The Last Word to debate what should be done to revamp the historic site.Catch the full chat pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to discuss all the best things to see and do when visiting Chicago in the US. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The Cabinet is to consider reducing the size of studio apartments in order to encourage developers to build more of them.Is this the most effective way to solve the housing crisis?Orla Hegarty, Architect & Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy at UCD and Kate English, Chief Economist at Deloitte, spoke to Matt on Monday’s The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

Croke Park will host a bumper weekend of senior hurling championship action as we reach the All-Ireland  semi-final stage.On Saturday, Dublin will face Cork while on Sunday, old rivals Tipperary and Kilkenny go head to head.Matt spoke to Jamesie O’Connor, Aidan ‘Taggy’ Fogarty and John McIntyre about what we can look forward to over the coming days.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

A tearful moment from UK chancellor Rachel Reeves in the House of Commons attracts criticism and solidarity, calls for Electric Picnic to be televised and Dublin city gets a new mobile unit to help late night revelers.Alison Healy and Dave Hanratty join The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

BirdWatch Ireland has released a map highlighting over 70 of the most vital areas for seabirds around the country.Under EU legislation, Ireland must designate areas to protect the lifecycle of birds.Environment commentator John Gibbons spoke to Matt on Thursday’s The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

A new study from the Economic and Social Research Institute has found that offers like free bets and money-back guarantees from gambling companies convince people to place more bets, leaving punters at risk of gambling addiction.Dr Diarmaid Ó Ceallaigh, Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the ESRI Behavioural Research Unit and Professor Colin O’Gara, Head of Addiction Services at St. John Of God Hospital spoke to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

Andy O'Donoghue, a technology expert, shares his insights on keeping kids entertained this summer with exciting tech. He highlights geolocation games like geocaching as fun outdoor activities that promote safety and learning. The discussion also covers engaging educational apps such as Origin Ireland and CodeMonkey, blending fun with summer learning. Plus, innovative tools like the Google Arts and Culture app open doors to virtual museum experiences, fostering creativity and problem-solving skills among children.