They’ll be selling 99s at communions, festivals, and weddings
17:12, 21 Sep 2026Updated 17:19, 21 Sep 2026
Student at Coláiste Éamann Rís with their new Ice Cream Van(Image: 96FM Opinion Line with PJ Coogan)
One Cork city school is going the extra mile to teach kids about the ‘real world’ as their students are now running their own Mr Whippy van.
This new “mini-company” is for Transition Year students at Coláiste Éamann Rís, where they can get hands-on experience with retail, conversational skills and handling cash. The snazzy, brightly decorated vehicle has stickers showing the school’s name – and as the van hits the road this week, Principal Aaron Wolfe is urging members of the public to “flag them down.”
If you do – you might just get a free 99 out of it. But that’s not all they’re packing in their brand new van. Customers can also get coffees, slushies and plenty of different types of sweets.
Each day, pupils will have the opportunity to serve ice cream and other treats to their fellow students – who will actually have to pay for them. And in future, the van will also be calling to communions, confirmations and weddings, with all profits going back towards stock and running costs.
Coláiste Éamann Rís’ new van comes just in time for the school’s open night tomorrow (6.30-8pm), where hundreds of kids and parents will come to meet the staff and learn more about their facilities. Mr. Wolfe joked that they usually get around 300 applications for 140 places – “but this year a place comes with a 99 as well.”
He told the Opinion Line with PJ Coogan: “It was O’Crualaoí’s Delicatessen and Butchers sponsored us the full price [of the van]. We drove off to Mayo to collect it. We had another principal, actually from Westport, check out the machine before we bought it. And then we went off to Mayo, brought it back. Thank you to O’Crualaoí’s, because a school couldn’t do this without sponsorship like that. But O’Crualaoí’s recognised the potential this van has for teaching students customer care and getting into catering.
Principal Aaron Wolfe (right) shared a special thank you to sponsers, O’Crualaoí’s Delicatessen and Butchers (Image: 96FM Opinion Line with PJ Coogan)
“…We’re saying if you have no interest in coming to this school, come to our open night and you’ll get a 99 tomorrow! So it’s on tomorrow night from half six to eight o’clock. We expect big crowds anyway. You know, at the moment the school is doing very, very well.
“…We’re hitting the road all this week. So if you see the van driving around, it’s got Coláiste Éamann Rís stickers. Flag us down! We’ve been giving out free ice creams, we’ve been calling to schools, and that’s one other important thing: the van is to serve as a positive behaviour strategy for other schools.”
He joked: “Well, the only school I can think of that might try and rival me is Kinsale Community School. There’s a great principal down there called Fergal who’s always on top of his game. But Fergal, I think I’ve beaten you this time with my ice cream van.”
Principal Wolfe is urging Cork teachers to get in touch if they want them to spin over to their school, give out ice creams for students, and hopefully “spread a bit of happiness through Cork city.”