Border Patrol

11th Sep 2003

Corkonians are willing to do anything that might possibly help the team...

Passions are running high in Cork County in advance of Sunday's All-Ireland Hurling Final meeting with Kilkenny. Corkonians are willing to do anything that might possibly help the team. This includes Border Patrols on all roads into the county. Suspicious vehicles possibly being used for espionage and reconnaissance are stopped and checked. Guerillas loyal to Cork carry out these inspections voluntarily.	Cork training sessions are a high-risk target for Kilkenny spies. All KK-reg vehicles are automatically turned back at the border. D-reg vehicles are considered almost as dangerous to the integrity of the county and entry is permitted only after an interview with the driver and an exhaustive search of the vehicle.
You might think he's checking for a twin cam, but that's not the case. Surveillance equipment or Kilkenny propaganda may be well concealed on the vehicle. Many Kilkenny spies are trained in Dublin or Louth for covert operations in Cork County. Guerillas carry out a thorough search of every suspicious vehicle.	Each D-reg driver must provide reasons for his or her trip to the Rebel County. Detailed notes are compiled by the Guerillas. It's hoped to have an electronic tagging system in place in time for Cork's next Final appearance, anticipated for September 2004.
All baggage is inspected and an inventory taken. Inflammatory material or objects are confiscated. These include items offensive to Cork sensibilities such as Kilkenny jerseys, Dubliners CDs or loaves of Brennans Bread.	What have we here? A welcome patch of red amidst the sea of dark blue...
A Cork hat is considered proof of this driver's credentials. Thumbs up from the Guerilla and the driver is sent on his way with some friendly advice to be wide of buying a car registered anywhere in the Greater Dublin area.	All in a day's work for a true Rebel.