Cannonball Run coming back to Mayo

THE official route for Cannonball 2019 has been announced and it is confirmed that the supercar spectacle is coming back to Ballina on Saturday, September 7, for a pit stop at 4 p.m.

Cannonball was last in Ballina in 2014 for one of the most memorable ever stops. Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny came to meet the event and drop the famous chequered flag.

Now the super cars are ready to make an entrance once again and thousands will line the roads from home and abroad to see the spectacle and enjoy this free family event in aid of the Irish Cancer Society.

Cannonball, fuelled by milesPlus from Circle K, will start at Malahide in Dublin this year on September 6 and then blaze a trail through Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Mayo, Sligo, Meath and Offaly.

Fans will meet the drivers and celebrities and get up close and personal with the world’s top mark cars such as McLaren, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Maserati, Rolls Royce and Bentley.

The benefit to the Irish economy and host towns of this event is estimated at €2,567,000 per year. Over 200,000 people will line the streets all over Ireland for Cannonball and the event has already raised €1,016,000 for Irish charities.

This year, the charity benefactor is the Irish Cancer Society.

Spectators will enjoy the unique festival atmosphere that Cannonball is renowned for. The Brazilian dancers will bring all the glamour of carnival, fire breathers, street entertainers, live music and free giveaways get the party started as the largest screen in Ireland shows footage of the event as crowds gather to welcome the event.

The notorious NYPD, German Polizei, Fr Willie and colourful Cannonballers in crazy costumes add to the melee. From Spiderman to Star Wars, Cat Woman to Wonder Woman, Cheerleaders to Charlie’s Angels, Batman, The Joker and more, it is a totally unique and free family day out.

Celebrity Cannonballers over the years include Boyzone’s Shane Lynch who is a firm devotee and even has the logo tattooed on his leg! Other household names have included former Miss World Rosanna Davison and husband Wes Quirke, Glenda Gilson, Rachel Allen, Kathryn Thomas, Miriam O’Callaghan, Georgia Salpa, Holly Carpenter, Roz Purcell, Nadia Forde, Ryan Tubridy, Mick Galway, Gerald Keane, Andy Quirke, Nicky Byrne, Colm Hayes, Ryan Thomas, Dirty Sanchez, Jenny Green, former Taoiseach Enda Kenny and former President Mary Robinson.

This year, organisers are looking for novelty cars, muscle cars and classics as well as supercars so check out www.cannonball.ie to register your interest and check routes and all details.

Cannonball will be fuelled by milesPlus from Circle K as the main headline Sponsor for 2019. Tour Sponsors include Manhattan Popcorn, Asystec and Hone. Cannonball official partners include Bonavox, AB Signs, Keanes Jewellers, Ballyseedy, Duke Energy Drinks, Karl Goodwin Motors and Krystle

See www.cannonball.ie for further details, routes and events.