Driving the other day I spotted a Met Éireann (the Irish Meteorological Service) van. Nothing too interesting about that. Lots of companies and organisations have vans with their names and logos on them. The Met Éireann van had another addition, it had Met-1 emblazoned on the side, like some call sign or name.

For an ambulance or a police car… ‘car one-five-five come in’. Vehicles that need to be contacted while on the road. Vehicles that a dispatcher needs to be able to identify and direct to crime scenes and accidents.

What does Met-1 need a call sign for? Is it being dispatched to investigate that sunny spell in Meath? How about that freak shower in Longford? Do meteorologists slide down a pole in the Met Éireann building when an alarm sounds? I don’t know and I couldn’t find out. I searched online.

No doubt there’s an explanation. Either that or its the same as giving the car in the Ghostbusters movies a name (Ecto-1) – it sounds official.