The Irish police force has been awarded an international 'Ig Nobel' award from Harvard University.

Turns out the gardai issued 50 driving tickets to a Polish person called Prawo Jazdy.

Except there is no Polish person called Prawo Jazdy - it means driving license in Polish!

The so-called alternative Nobels are awarded for “achievements that first make people laugh, then make them think.”

The Irish Times had reported earlier this year that “Prawo Jazdy” had been given more than 50 tickets for driving offenses according to the Garda’s Pulse system.

However, when an officer investigated, he found “Prawo Jazdy” was Polish for “driving license," and subsequently alerted stations around Ireland.

"Prawo Jazdy is actually the Polish for driving license and not the first and surname on the license,” the officer said.