Bernard Askins has been driving his ice-cream van around north Co Dublin for almost two decades‘There is nostalgia to the ice-cream van - it says it’s not all doom and gloom’ Video: Nick Bradshaw Editor: Eoin Ronayne My family’s been in ice-cream for about 40 years. My grandmother bought her first van back in the early 1980s. I grew up around the business, and I had a feel for it.I was working as a taxi and limousine driver when the last recession hit, and I said to myself: “Okay, what else can I do?”I bought my van in 2008 and went from there. I have two now, and I still use the same colours as my grandmother: Yellow, purple and white.It’s a territorial business. It can be hard to get into, to know where to go and what to do. There were times in the first two years I was saying to myself: “Do I even know what I’m doing? Is this for me?”I stuck with it, and I’m almost two decades in now. Ben’s Ices have regular routes around north Co Dublin, the housing estates in Rush, Lusk and Donabate. Fridays are the busiest weekday because they’re considered a treat day for children.People are used to me coming and going. A lot of the children come out not necessarily to buy the ice-cream, but they want to tell you about their day, that they won a trophy in football, that they’re excelling in something at school or they are going on holidays.If you’re good and professional, you pick up rapport with people. There’s one particular housing estate that I’ve been very accepted into. They had a street party a few years ago, and the children and parents made a banner that was hung across the road. It said: “Ben’s ice-cream. Brilliant ice-cream man. Thanks for coming.”It’s rewarding work. I feel guilty sometimes not being able to get around everywhere because you know people are waiting for you.There is nostalgia to the ice-cream van – it says it’s not all doom and gloom. For some people, it’s the only time they treat themselves during the week. There’s one woman who always shares her ice-cream with her dog, and there are others who look forward to it after a long day.'It’s rewarding work. I feel guilty sometimes not being able to get around everywhere because you know people are waiting for you.' Photograph: Nick Bradshaw 'On a busy day around the neighbourhoods, we’d probably sell 300 ice-creams. If I do a corporate event, it could be up around 1,200.' Photograph: Nick Bradshaw On a busy day around the neighbourhoods, we’d probably sell 300 ice-creams. If I do a corporate event, it could be up around 1,200.Years ago, we used to start at 11am and be out till nearly 11pm, you wouldn’t get away with that now. I’m a parent myself, and you have to be mindful. There has to be a balance. [ ‘It’s taken off like a rocket’: Artisan Irish ice-pop maker Kahuna Pops thriving in the heatOpens in new window ]Children are not up as late as they used to be, and they’re in their houses on gaming consoles more than in the past. Society has changed. People have changed, but you adapt and work with it.I’m so long at it now that the children who used to come to my van are now coming with their own kids. It’s different generations. It makes me feel old, don’t get me wrong, but it’s great to see.IN THIS SECTION