If you've been out on the roads at all in the last 12 months, you've probably been stopped at a checkpoint at one stage or the other.
We've heard some brilliant stories about some of the interactions - but one left comedian Tommy Tiernan in a fit of giggles earlier this week.
The incident was explained on the podcast that the Navan comedian co-hosts with Hector Ó hEochagáin and Laurita Blewitt.
On the latest episode Hector spoke about travelling to Cork to film for TG4.
The comedian said: “To be able to go in the car and travel around the country like I’ve done for the past two weeks, I feel so privileged and happy that I can do it and that we’re safe.
“We have the letter from TG4 that it’s essential that we make this show because there’s five freelancers working on the show, that’s five families so it’s great to be out working.
“But I know people are staying in their own bubble so I don’t want to sound bigheaded - I just wanted to clear that up."
The Meathman then transitioned into a story about being stopped in North Cork - saying that it was the "best checkpoint I've ever seen".
He added: “I was coming from Fermoy into Cork and what they’ve done is they don’t block the motorway - it’s really smart what the gardai have done.
“They start putting in the cones about two miles out before that and you’re slowing down, and then you’re in one lane and then they direct you up a slip road.
“They put me up a slip road and I gave them a winner of a bumper in Cheltenham, I told the two gardai right there that Sir Gerhard would win the bumper in Cheltenham,” he said, with a second of silence falling before Tommy starts giggling in disbelief.
Ó hEochagáin is a man who knows his stuff when it comes to racing too so he was quick off the mark.
“Sorry so how does that work? How the f**k does that work? ‘Where are you going?’ ‘Ahh.’ What’s the name of the horse?”
“Sir Gerhard,” said Hector.
“‘Sir Gerhard, 3:20, Cheltenham tomorrow.’ ‘Fair play to ya Hector off ya go.’”
Hector went on to clear up how it all happened:
“They were all like ‘Hector what are ya doing’ and I said a show for TG4, ‘alright have you got letters’ and all that, ‘yeah we’ve essential letters’, ‘okay good away ye go - any winners with Cheltenham Hector?’ and I said ‘Sir Gerhard will win the bumper’ - and Sir Gerhard won the bumper.
“But the gardai are doing a great job around the country,” he added.
