In attendance at the official opening of Iggy’s Mobile Shop at Colaiste Choilm were L. - R. Mr. Tadhg O’Sullivan, Principal, Cllr. Sean O’Brien, Ms Niamh McDermott, Teacher, Cllr. Tony McCormack, Cathaoirleach of Tullamore Municipal District, Deputy Carol Nolan TD, Deputy Barry Cowen TD, Paul Galvin, Mary’s Meals and Mr. Gearoid O’Regan, Deputy Principal.

TY students launch ‘Iggy’s Horsebox’ as charity fundraiser

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It’s amazing what can be done with a secondhand horsebox and a first-rate set of ideals, the town of Tullamore is discovering.

Three pupils from Colaiste Choilm in Tullamore have opened a mobile school tuck shop/cafe – and the funds they raise are to be donated to Mary’s Meals, a charity that feeds and educates two million children in the third world.

Behind the enterprise they have named "Iggy’s Horsebox" are students Joe Hughes, Cian McConnell and Luke Boyle, who were stunned when they discovered that Mary’s Meals can feed a child in the third world for a year for just €18.50.

"We take so much for granted: we might spend €18 freely on just a haircut," Joe Hughes told the Offaly Independent this week.

They persuaded their fellow Transition Year students to take on the project with them as part of an effort to earn bronze Gaisce awards.

The use of the horsebox was donated to the students by an anonymous business person and they chose the name Iggy’s Horsebox in honour of Ignatius Edmund Rice founder of the Christian Brothers, founders of the school.

"We are fortunate enough to have been gifted enough stock to feed our horsebox for at least 13 weeks by Lidl, Aldi, Dunnes Stores and Tyrrell’s Bakery," said Joe.

He also extended thanks to Tony McCormack of Print Plus who donated all the signage used: "In just a matter of days he was able to redesign it from just a plain black horsebox to a colourful shop with images and the school crest," Joe explained.

The students open for business outside the school at 8.15am each day, and close up at 8.45 am so they can attend classes.

They reopen at 3.40 and run until 4pm. "We sell bars of chocolate, crisps, frit, smoothies, drinks – but at prices lower than in the shops, with all the money going to Mary’s Meals," said Joe.

"There’s no cooking involved although we might have future plans, but at the moment it’s just nutritious breakfast snacks and after school snacks," he added.

With one week of operation complete, the young entrepreneurs are delighted at how well things have gone for them.

"If anyone has any ideas or events that they think could work for our horsebox, we’d be delighted if they would contact the school," Joe concluded.

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