Who's cone to get their hands on these Big Boys?

Louise Walsh

A local filling station is literally is whipping up a storm of demand for their towering ice-creams - even selling up to 100 cones during Ireland's big freeze when Storm Emma hit.

As temperatures soar this weekend, staff at Ross Filling Station are bracing themselves for increased sales of their 'Big Boy' and are hoping to smash their record of 601 ice-creams sold in a day - which was set last year.

The massive cones are so popular that motorists regularly queue for miles along the hard shoulder of the N3 to 'wafer' one at the store, which is between Navan and Dunshaughlin

Some ice-cream lovers have driven across the country for a Big Boy, while the shop is often the first stop for local holiday makers, home from abroad.

Staff have also noticed that construction workers are some of their biggest customers for the whipped ice.

However, it's causing a few problems for some social media gurus whose ices have hit the ground during melted selfie attempts.

According to manager Nadia McAuley (34) and deli manager Gillian Hughes (50), the ice-cream machine is never turned off, even in winter.

"We never shut the machine down as there's always someone looking for a Big Boy, even in rain, hail or snow," said Nadia.

GALLERY: Enjoying the Big Boys in Ross Cross

"We actually sold about 100 of them during the snow of Storm Emma, which is unbelievable.

"At the minute, we're selling about 400 a day but we hope to break the record this weekend of 601 ice-creams which was set here last year.

"People come from everywhere for them. One couple said they drove from Mayo because they heard of them.  Others purposely get off the motorway to come here and  it's also the first stop for regular holiday makers, after leaving the airport.

"Builders definitely seem to be our biggest ice-cream customers but also local kids and parents.  Everyone loves an ice-cream.  We do sometimes make the Big Boy smaller for kids to handle easier.

"Some people have had to buy a second one though.  They get outside and try and take a selfie with the Big Boy but the ice-cream tilts and falls on the ground," she laughed

"It's definitely one of the most photographed ice-creams in the country, I'd say."