RTE star Ray D'Arcy revealed he was recently caught in a supermarket without a mask.
The radio presenter shared the "embarrassing" story with listeners on Monday after he noticed shoppers staring at him, leaving him mortified.
D'Arcy was confused at first. He was wearing a baseball cap to avoid attention but presumed he "must be looking like himself more than usual" as people began to stare.
But he soon copped that people were glaring at him because he wasn't wearing a face covering.
RTE's second highest-earning presenter then told listeners he "didn’t know what happened" between the car and the shop as he had actually brought the mask in with him.
Ray didn't understand how he made the basic mistake, after wearing it day in and day out for the past 18 months.
He said: "It's slightly embarrassing, it's like realising your fly is open and then you retrace your tracks to all the people that saw that it was open and didn't tell you, it's a bit like that."
After admitting he made an error, the 57-year-olds worries were eased by listeners who shared similar experiences of simply forgetting to wear the mask in shops.
Listeners were largely sympathetic over the misstep, with one writing online: "So you are the un-masked shopper, it can happen to anyone."
According to the rules on masks in Ireland, wearing a face covering is the law in many situations and you could be fined or imprisoned if you refuse to wear one without a reasonable excuse.
It is recommended to wear a face covering where social distancing is difficult. It is also advised in crowded workplaces, places of worship and in busy or crowded outdoor spaces where a lot of people gather together.
The law on face coverings includes exemptions for medical, dental or other healthcare services, as well as sit-in restaurants or cafes.
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