RETRO Cannonball is coming to Mayo this week

This Friday and Saturday (May 24 and 25), RETRO Cannonball rolls once again, featuring 100 classic cars, free family live entertainment and that unique festival atmosphere that Cannonball is renowned for.

The event will have its first overnight pitstop in Co. Mayo this year, arriving to Westport Plaza Hotel at 6 p.m. on Friday (May 24).

Spectators and families can get up close, see some rare classic cars, take photographs, meet the drivers and enjoy the timeless allure of vintage automobiles.

The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation is official charity partner for Cannonball Ireland 2024 and currently supports 15 children and their families across Mayo. The organisation funds and provides in-home nursing care and respite support to families caring for children, up to the age of six, with neurodevelopmental delay associated with a severe cognitive delay. This may include children with brain injury, a genetic diagnosis, cerebral palsy, and undiagnosed conditions.

Another key part of the service is end-of-life-care for all children up to the age of six, irrespective of diagnosis.

Since its inception in 1997, 102 children have been cared for by the charity in Co. Mayo.

Deirdre Walsh, CEO of Jack and Jill, commented: “We are honoured that Cannonball Ireland have chosen to support Jack and Jill again in 2024. Last year, our partnership raised an impressive €161,000 – which translated into 8,944 hours of in-home nursing care and respite support for 534 families supported by Jack and Jill in 2023.

“We were overwhelmed by the support from families, volunteers and corporate partners, who came out along the route to help raise as much funds as possible, and to the drivers who brought so much fun-factor to this exciting fundraiser. A huge thanks to Alan Bannon and his team for choosing Jack and Jill, and here’s to another successful year for our partnership.”

Classic cars are all about the experience, style, exclusivity and craftsmanship, all of which are universal and timeless. Retro Cannonball is a two-day odyssey taking in the Wild Atlantic Way and towns and villages through the Hidden Heartlands of Ireland. Featuring cars from the '60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, from vintage Mustangs to sleek Corvettes, an impressive array of iconic automobiles will rumble together, creating a nostalgic symphony as they roll through picturesque landscapes.

RETRO Cannonball starts at Thomond Park in Limerick on Friday at 9.30 a.m., with cars leaving at 10.30 a.m., with lunch in Fiddle & Bow Hotel, Co. Clare. It then continues along the Wild Atlantic Way with its mesmerizing tapestry of rugged coastline and dramatic cliffs to arrive to for an overnight stay in Westport.

On Saturday (May 25), the convoy makes its way across the country for lunch at Kilronan Castle, Co. Roscommon, with a quick coffee stop in the renowned Drumcoura City in Leitrim before the convoy arrives into Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, for an exciting finish line.

The classic car convoy will include rare cars such as the Lamborghini Diablo, Jaguar E-Type, Ferrari 348 GTS, Mercedes-Benz SL Classics, Lancia Beta, BMW 635CSI, Porsche 911 Carrera and Targa, MG Midget, Ford Escort Cosworth, Chevrolet Corvette, VW Beetle, Ford Thunderbird, Mini Cooper and many more.

“We are welcoming cars from the golden era of the '60s, '70s, '80s and early '90s to take in stunning drives and many famous Irish landmarks,” said Cannonball founder Alan Bannon.

“Classic cars not only appeal to car lovers, but also to lovers of engineering, design, art and history. They retain an incurable romance, and that is the reason why people do, and always will, love classic cars.”

Registration is also now open for Cannonball Ireland, the supercar event taking place from September 6 to 8 this year. It's a firm favourite with both drivers and spectators, with proceeds going to the Jack and Jill Foundation.

RETRO Cannonball is an altogether more laid-back experience but drivers and spectators still enjoy one of the most unique motoring fraternities in the world, with breath-taking driving routes, luxurious hospitality and that rare ‘camaraderie’ that makes Cannonball a truly unforgettable experience. See www.cannonball.ie for details of all events.