The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Sam Scriven, senior statistician with the Central Statistics Office, and Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, chief executive of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, join The Last Word to discuss the latest inbound tourism figures which indicate a collapse in foreign visitors to Ireland.Matt is also joined by Kenny Jacobs, chief executive of the Dublin Airport Authority, to discuss the Dublin airport passenger cap following reports that the government is considering a major intervention.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Kerry won the Division One National Football League on Sunday after a dominant win over Mayo at Croke Park.Elsewhere, Monaghan were crowned winners of Division 2, Offaly were winners in Division 3 and Limerick took the Division 4 title after beating Wexford on Saturday.But after approximately 30,000 people attended the games over the weekend, have the league finals lost their spark?Former Monaghan footballer Dick Clerkin spoke to Matt and Will O’Callaghan about the results.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

Stuart McNamara, spokesperson for The Irish Craft and Artisan Distilleries Association and director of Portmagee Whiskey in Kerry, and Barry Cowen, Fianna Fáil MEP discuss the exposure of the Irish Whiskey Industry to US tariffs and what can be done to insure the future of jobs.To catch the full conversation, press the play button on this page.

Lise Hand, a seasoned journalist, and Dion Fanning, co-host of the 'Free State' podcast, dive into this week's hot topics. They discuss the European Union's push for 72-hour emergency kits amidst rising global tensions, reflecting on the implications of fear and national identity for Ireland. The pair also celebrate the inclusion of culturally significant terms like 'spice bag' in the Oxford English Dictionary, exploring the evolving nature of language and identity. Their conversation is both informative and infused with wit, making for an engaging listen.

Conor Gallagher, Security and Crime Correspondent, Irish Times and Prof Colin O’Gara, Head of Addiction Services, St John of God Hospital discuss the findings of an EU-wide study that found Ireland was second only to the Netherlands in terms of ecstasy use among young people.Press play on this page to catch the full conversation.

In 1972, American boxing champion Muhammad Ali, the most famous athlete in the world, came to Ireland to fight in Croke Park.Dave Hannigan, author of 'The Big Fight : When Ali Conquered Ireland', joins The Last Word to discuss how he pieced together the details of one of the most unique events in Irish sporting history.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Fianna Fáil Senator Teresa Costello has said that radical reform is needed for women under the age of 50 who present with breast cancer symptoms, having previously been diagnosed with the disease at the age of 36.Ahead of Daffodil Day 2025, she is calling on the Minister for Health to discuss the matter in the Seanad.Hit the ‘Play’ button to hear her chat with Matt.

Environmentalist and Researcher in Climate Policy, Sadhbh O’Neill, recently made the decision to sell her car and buy an e-bike.She spoke to Matt on Thursday’s The Last Word to explain why and to highlight the financial, physical and environmental benefits she has seen from doing so over the last 6 months.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to run through some of the best new driving tech including easy to read smart navigation and top of the range dash cams,Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page

Writer Patricia Scanlan is the latest inductee into The Last Word Culture Club, where she talks about the music, books, TV and movies that have influenced her life and work.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.