European politicians are seeking to ban airlines from charging passengers for small carry-on luggage or charging for families to sit together on a flight, in moves strongly opposed by the aviation sector. Eoghan Corry, travel and viation journalist, and Kevin Hiney, communications director with Airlines for Europe, join The Last Word to discuss the…

From time trackers, smart home organisers to advanced driver assistants, Andy O'Donoghue outlined the best AI assistants to use for in the home, for work and for motoring. To listen to the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Primark, the parent company of Penneys, is planning to cut around 100 jobs at the its Dublin head office as the company moves to outsource some of its human resources, finance and procurement activities. Ian Guider, columnist with the Business Post, joins The Last Word to discuss this and more of the latest business news. Catch the full chat by pre…

Author and former actor R B Egan was Matt's guest in the Culture Club, he spoke about the inspiration for his new crime novel, The Landlord. He also discussed his favourite music, film, TV, and books.

Natasha O'Brien came to prominence after soldier Cathal Crotty, who viciously attacked her in Limerick in 2022, received a three-year suspended sentence for the assault, sparking outrage across Ireland. Natasha joins The Last Word to discuss the new RTÉ documentary 'Natasha', which explores what happens next for her and other survivors of violence.…

Anne Marie Allen, author of Serve: My Lost Years At The Heart Of Opus Dei, spoke to Matt about her life inside Opus Dei and how she left the organisation ato rebuild her life through education. To listen to the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

US President Donald Trump has said he is "not happy" with Israel and Iran after claiming both countries violated a ceasefire. Marion McKeone and Cal Thomas join The Last Word to discuss Trump's involvement in the conflict and more of the latest news from the United States. But to start, Dr Edward Burke, lecturer in the history of war at UCD, joins …

The new €2.4bn pediatric hospital will officially be named the National Children's Hospital of Ireland according to a Government proposal, despite efforts to name it after doctor and political activist Dr Kathleen Lynn. Dr Mary McAuliffe, director of Gender Studies at UCD, and Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh join The Last Word to discuss whether pub…

The fixtures for the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals have been confirmed, with the four teams which topped their groups - Armagh, Meath, Monaghan, and Tyrone - set to meet the winners from the preliminary quarter-finals. Will O’Callaghan from Off The Ball and Ray Silke, former All-Ireland winner with Galway, join The Last Word to look back on the pr…

Worry, anxiety and frustration are the most common feelings people have towards climate change and climate policies, according to a new government report. Sadhbh O'Neill, project lead for Feminist Communities for Climate Justice, joins The Last Word to discuss why people feel so hopeless about Ireland's climate action and what can be done about it.…

Spain, Italy, Greece and further afield, Sarah Slattery, thetravelexpert.ie, had a run-down of the best deals of offer for last minute Summer holidays. To catch the full conversation, press the ‘play’ button on this page.

Rumours swirl after Cork's lucky €250m Euromillions win, Sky to monitor WhatsApp chats in an attempt to catch dodgy-box users, & Kneecap's Mo Chara stands defiant at Dublin gig after UK court appearance. Sarah McGuinness, political correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail, and Cathal O’Sullivan, assistant producer with 98FM, join The Last Word to di…

Claire Liddy, social care worker and co-founder of GAA Palestine explained the origins of the only GAA club in the West Bank and what the club means for young players as they plan a trip to Ireland this summer for a series of games around the country. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.…

New figures released by Eurostat show that Ireland is now the second most expensive country in the EU for goods and services. Meanwhile, the prices of alcohol and tobacco are more than double the EU average, making them the most expensive in the EU. Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent and Adrian Cummins, Chief Executi…

Lord Henry Mount Charles, the man who introduced concerts at his iconic home of Slane Castle in Co. Meath, has died. His death was announced on Thursday morning after fighting “a long and valiant battle with cancer”. There have been 26 concerts altogether which included U2, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Madonna and Bruce Springsteen. Lise Hand a…

Sky Ireland has warned dodgy box users of “consequences” if they’re caught illegally streaming through their so-called dodgy boxes. Tech expert Andy O’Donoghue spoke to Ian Guider on Thursday’s The Last Word. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Planning permission has been sought for 439 purpose-built student bed spaces in Clonskeagh, Dublin 6. The site is just 1km from UCD’s main campus, but it has been met with opposition from residents. Ian Guider joined Will O’Callaghan for Wednesday’s business news. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.…

On this week’s Culture Club, Will O’Callaghan was joined by Ian Leslie, author of the acclaimed book ‘John and Paul: A Love Story In Songs’. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear all his choices.

Charlie Weston, personal finance editor with the Irish Independent had some tips on how to manage costs when hiring a car abroad. Charlie also explained why an almost 50% increase in cattle prices could be passed on to the consumer in terms of food inflation. To catch the full conversation, press the play button on this page.…

A study from the Anti-Bullying Centre at DUC has found that banning smartphones in schools has little or no impact on education, the wellbeing of students or online bullying. Dr Megan Reynolds, Postdoctoral Researcher at Dublin City University and Lead Author outlined the findings of the report. To catch the full conversation, press the play button…

Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who was charged with a terror offence in May by the Metropolitan Police, has been released on unconditional bail and will reappear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 20th. The 27-year-old, whose stage name is Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in November 2024. Emil…

US President Donald Trump left a meeting of G7 leaders in Canada early after warning that "everyone should evacuate Tehran" as attacks between Israel and Iran continue to escalate. Marion McKeone and Larry Donnelly join The Last Word to discuss all of the latest news from the United States. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this …

New legislation introducing an opt-out system of consent for organ donation in Ireland has come into effect. Priscilla Lynch, clinical editor with the Medical Independent, and Joe O’Brien, executive director at the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, join The Last Word to discuss how this new system will work. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Pl…

The Club World Cup kicked off over the weekend and on Sunday, Bayern Munich hammered Auckland City 10-0. After gruelling domestic seasons and ever-increasing fixture schedules, is the appetite there – from both players and fans alike – for another major football tournament? Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer with The Independent, spoke to Will O…

As the National Economic Dialogue took place in Dublin Castle, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe warned of ‘dark clouds’ on Ireland’s economic horizon. Daniel McConnell, editor, Business Post and Owen Reidy, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions discussed concerns raised over Ireland’s reliance on corporation tax and the threats ah…

Sinéad Kennedy, travel expert and host of Wellness Activity Breaks, joins The Last Word to talk all about her recent visit to Tunisia and why she thinks it the ideal trip for holidaymakers looking to explore beyond typical sun destinations. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!…

Greta Thunberg and other activists on a Gaza-bound boat are deported by Israel, a Democratic US Senator is arrested and handcuffed at an immigration briefing in LA, and the Confirmation pledge gets a 21st century update. Author and journalist Aoife Barry and Eoghan Thomas McDermott, managing director at the Communications Clinic, join The Last Word…

In the Last Word on Business, Ian Guider, columnist with the Business Post, explained why EriGrid's chairman in a statement said nuclear power generation should be considered. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

To mark the 200th episode of The Last Word’s environment slot, Matt conducted a Q&A with John Gibbons with all the queries coming from you, the listeners. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear all of John’s answers.

Manchán Magan joins The Last Word to discuss the forgotten presence of Irish monks, migrants and storytellers in Iceland and how the two island nations have more in common than is often remembered. He uncovers all of this in his latest book 'Ireland in Iceland: Gaelic Remnants in a Nordic Land'. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on …

Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to continue his review of the best home security equipment and this time he has tech for inside the home, including smoke alarms, water leak detectors and smart plugs. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Writer and actor Peter Hanly spoke to Matt about his upcoming play What Are You Afraid Of? A well known actor of stage, TV and film for many years, the play deals with Peter's experience of stage-fright and the impact on his career. Peter also discussed his favourite books, music, TV, film and more. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' …

10 per cent of Irish households have a net wealth of more than €1 million while the bottom 10 per cent are worth less than €2,400, according to new figures from Central Statistics Office. Ian Guider, columnist with the Business Post, joins The Last Word to discuss this CSO data and more of the latest business news. Catch the full chat by pressing t…

According to research carried out by Raisin Bank, the average budget for a wedding in Ireland is between €10,000 and €20,000. It also found that 45% of those surveyed were willing to go into debt to cover the cost of the big day, with 1 in 4 couples spending up to €50,000. Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent, spoke to…

Sarah Slattery from travelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to talk through her top tips and accessories in order to have a five-star travel experience this summer. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

US President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of the Marine Corps to Los Angeles as protests over immigration raids continue across the city. Marion McKeone and Larry Donnelly join The Last Word to discuss the escalating tensions in LA and more of the latest news from the US. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!…

AsIAm and PTSB have launched the 2025 Autism Friendly Towns Initiative, which asks villages, towns and cities around Ireland to become genuinely inclusive to autistic people in their communities. Adam Harris, Chief Executive of AsIAm, joined Matt on Tuesday to explain the initiative further and highlight how you can get involved. Hit the ‘Play’ but…

Cork put a stop to Limerick’s bid for 7 Munster titles in a row on Saturday night when they beat John Kiely’s side after extra time and penalties. Elsewhere, Kilkenny made it 6 titles in a row in Leinster as they overcame Galway at Croke Park on Sunday. Matt spoke to Off The Ball’s Will O’Callaghan and John McIntyre about the weekend’s action. Hit …

Last week, TikTok blocked users from searching the term “#skinnytok”, after critics suggested it directs people towards content that “idolises extreme thinness”. The content associated with the hashtag included workout routines and what users eat in a day. But how effective will TikTok's move be, and should social media giants do more to prevent su…

Conor Sheehan, Labour housing spokesperson and Pat Davitt, CEO, Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers debate the use of rent pressures zones and proposals to remove rent caps. To listen to the full conversation, press the ‘play’ button on this page.

Week Trending: Trump V Musk Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at the University of Galway, and Sinead O’Carroll, Editor of thejournal.ie, discussed some of the biggest stories of the week including a guest Influencer at Leinster House who slagged off the Oireachtas food, Amazon testing humanoid delivery bots and planning exemptions for granny flats. As …

Freedom of information figures released to Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould have found that 2,749 council homes are currently boarded up in Ireland. Matt spoke to Deputy Gould, alongside Seamus McGrath TD, Fianna Fail Spokesperson on Housing and Jude Sherry, Founder and Director of Anois, about the issue. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the con…

Robert Delany. who was 27 when he was shot in 2008, suffered a catastrophic brain injury and has remained in a permanent life altering state ever since. However, for 17 years, the man who called for Robert to be killed continues to walk free. Stephen Breen, Irish Sun Crime Editor and contributor to the podcast and Terry Delany, the father of Robert…

There have been calls to ban industrial trawlers partaking in inshore fishing due to what’s been described by campaigners as “indiscriminate harvesting” of sprat fish off the coast of Cork. Environmental commentator John Gibbons spoke to Matt on Thursday’s The Last Word. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.…

Andy O'Donoghue reviews the best in homes security from Ring Doorbells, outdoor security cameras, floodlights and smartlocks. To listen to the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

US President Donald Trump has increased steel and aluminium tariffs to 50%, which came into effect at 8am Irish time on Wednesday. How is this decision going to impact Ireland’s economy, and the economy around the world? Brian Carey, Business Editor with the Sunday Times spoke to Matt on Wednesday’s business news. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page…

Ahead of her performance at the Glucksman Gallery in Cork as part of the Cork Midsummer Festival, artist and sign language interpreter Amanda Coogan spoke to Matt about her cultural influences. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Richard Satchwell, who was found guilty of the murder of his wife Tina last Friday by unanimous verdict, was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday. Ms. Satchwell’s sister Lorraine Howard told the court that Mr. Satchwell “put us as a family though the ultimate hell of not knowing what had happened to Tina for years”. Jamie O’Hara, Today FM’s Cou…

Elon Musk has denied that he engaged in heavy ketamine consumption while working as one of Donald Trump’s advisers on the presidential campaign last year, following a report in the New York Times in recent days. Marion McKeone and Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at University of Galway & Columnist with TheJournal.ie, spoke to Matt on Tuesday’s US slot…

The Nakba, also known as 'Catastrophe', occurred between 1947 and 1949, and saw 15,000 Palestinians killed and more than 700,000 displaced from their homes by Israel. On Tuesday, Matt was joined by author Fintan Drury to discuss his new book ‘Catastrophe: Nakba II’. The book is an analysis of the oppression that Palestinians have faced for decades,…