The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody has released his first book “The Forest is the Path”, sharing its name with the band’s latest studio album.To celebrate its release, Gary joined Matt for the latest edition of The Last Word’s Culture Club.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear all his choices.

Leaving Cert English students could face oral exams worth 20 per cent at the end of fifth year, with the written exam reducing from two papers to one by 2027.There are further plans to introduce a creative writing task, where students will be tasked with writing an original piece during class time.Jennifer Horgan, English teacher and Irish Examiner Columnist and Brian Mooney, Irish Times Education Columnist and guidance counsellor, spoke to Matt about this proposal.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

US President Donald Trump has had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine.Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated US columnist, and journalist 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!

There was much surprise on St Patrick's Day when MMA fighter Conor McGregor met with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office just days after Taoiseach Micheál Martin's visit.Dion Fanning, co-host of the Free State podcast, and Gary Murphy, professor of politics at DCU's School of Law and Government, join The Last Word to discuss why McGregor was invited to the White House and whether it could mark the beginning of his campaign to be the next president of Ireland. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Adrian Weckler, Tech Correspondent with the Irish Independent, discusses the launch of Amazon.ie in Ireland, which eliminates the need for local users to rely on the UK version. He delves into its subscription model, which is cheaper but raises questions about the equivalent shopping experience. The conversation highlights potential challenges for small retailers due to Amazon's impact on local competition and the necessity for them to adapt to new consumer behaviors. Weckler also addresses the hurdles faced by Irish businesses navigating the Marketplace.

Author and journalist Donald McRae has written his latest book “The Last Bell: Life, Death and Boxing”.He’s followed the careers of some of the biggest names in the sport, including Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury and Katie Taylor.But after 50 years of covering boxing so intently, why did he find himself falling out of love with it?Donald joined Will O’Callaghan on Friday’s The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

Manchester United unveils plan to build a new stadium beside Old Trafford, gardaí prepare for St Patrick's Day in Dublin and was the Taoiseach's trip to the White House a success?Joe O’Shea, editor of Cork Beo, and Sinead O’Carroll, editor of TheJournal.ie, join The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

A new report has shown that climate whiplash is making an impact in cities such as Madrid and Riyadh, which sees the weather swing between extreme wet and dry spells as a result of rising global temperatures.Environmental commentator John Gibbons joined Will O’Callaghan to discuss the findings.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

Are you thinking of shopping online but want to find alternatives to Amazon?On this week’s Tech Thursday, Andy O’Donoghue spoke to Will O’Callaghan to give his recommendations on the options available to you.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

Irish folk singer Maria Kelly was the latest guest to be inducted into The Last Word’s Culture Club.She talked to Ian Guider about the music, literature, film and TV that influenced her from when she was young to the present day.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear her choices.