A system for providing cooling air to molds for molding hot glass material into glass containers, comprising: a first manifold configured to connect to a first source of cooling air, a first plurality of apertures (102,104,106) located in a distributor plate on a top side of the first manifold and extending between the first manifold and a top side of the distributor plate; a bottom plate assembly; a pair of mold halves (40, 42) moveable between an open position in which the mold halves are spaced away from each other and a closed position in which the mold halves engage a portion of the bottom plate assembly and each other to form a mold; a pair of mold half support assemblies (108,110) for respectively supporting the pair of mold halves and for selectively moving the mold halves between their open and closed positions; a first plurality of vertical cooling passages (62,64) located in the pair of mold halves, the first plurality of vertical cooling passages in the pair of mold halves being in fluid communication at bottom ends thereof with the plurality of apertures (102,104,106) located in the distributor plate to be able to receive cooling air from the first manifold when the mold halves are in their closed position; a second plurality of vertical cooling passages (76,78) located in the pair of mold halves separate from the first plurality of vertical cooling passages located in the pair of mold halves, each of the second plurality of vertical cooling passages having an inlet and an outlet; and an additional manifold (120,132,122,142) associated with each of the pair of mold half support assemblies, the additional manifolds being configured to connect to a second source of cooling air, the second plurality of vertical cooling passages in the pair of mold halves being in fluid communication at their respective inlets with at least one opening located in each of the additional manifolds to be able to continuously receive cooling air therefrom irrespective of the position of the mold halves, characterised in that cooling air flows through the at least one opening located in each of the additional manifolds downwardly through the second array of vertical cooling passages, so the cooling air supplied to the first plurality of vertical cooling passages (62,64) flows in an opposite direction from the cooling air supplied to the second plurality of vertical cooling passages (76,78). a first manifold configured to connect to a first source of cooling air, a first plurality of apertures (102,104,106) located in a distributor plate on a top side of the first manifold and extending between the first manifold and a top side of the distributor plate; a bottom plate assembly; a pair of mold halves (40, 42) moveable between an open position in which the mold halves are spaced away from each other and a closed position in which the mold halves engage a portion of the bottom plate assembly and each other to form a mold; a pair of mold half support assemblies (108,110) for respectively supporting the pair of mold halves and for selectively moving the mold halves between their open and closed positions; a first plurality of vertical cooling passages (62,64) located in the pair of mold halves, the first plurality of vertical cooling passages in the pair of mold halves being in fluid communication at bottom ends thereof with the plurality of apertures (102,104,106) located in the distributor plate to be able to receive cooling air from the first manifold when the mold halves are in their closed position; a second plurality of vertical cooling passages (76,78) located in the pair of mold halves separate from the first plurality of vertical cooling passages located in the pair of mold halves, each of the second plurality of vertical cooling passages having an inlet and an outlet; and an additional manifold (120,132,122,142) associated with each of the pair of mold half support assemblies, the additional manifolds being configured to connect to a second source of cooling air, the second plurality of vertical cooling passages in the pair of mold halves being in fluid communication at their respective inlets with at least one opening located in each of the additional manifolds to be able to continuously receive cooling air therefrom irrespective of the position of the mold halves, characterised in that cooling air flows through the at least one opening located in each of the additional manifolds downwardly through the second array of vertical cooling passages, so the cooling air supplied to the first plurality of vertical cooling passages (62,64) flows in an opposite direction from the cooling air supplied to the second plurality of vertical cooling passages (76,78).