Cannonball race through region this weekend
Day 3, Sunday, September 19, will see the cars arrive in Cavan, Meath and Westmeath
Local petrol heads will be be thrilled that the some of the world’s most spectacular sportscars will be winging their way through part of Cavan, however briefly, this coming weekend.
Not since 2019 has the Cannonball route taken in the Breffni County, and this time the gleaming convoy will pass en route to Slane Village in neighbouring Co Meath before finishing up in Belfast.
Billed as the ultimate Irish road trip, Cannonball is a three-day event that sees some of the world’s top-mark cars travel around Ireland to raise money for charity.
More than €1.1million has been raised by Cannonball runs since their first outing more than a decade ago, with the HOPE Foundation, which works with street children in the Indian city of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), chosen this year’s official charity.
The 2021 Cannonball run sets off from Dublin’s Malahide Castle on Friday morning, September 17 at 10am, before arriving at Lapps Quay in Cork City via Shanagarry, Fermoy and Middleton at 5.30pm.
Day 2, Saturday, September 18, sees the convoy set off from Cork and end up in Galway, via Molls Gap and the Tarbert Ferry.
Day 3, Sunday, September 19, will see the cars arrive in Cavan, having set off from Galway at 10.30am, driving through Athlone, before arriving at Ballymachugh via the N55 and R194 before the drivers then stop for lunch.
At 2.30pm the cars and their owners will head for Slane Village from Cavan, driving through at 3pm, finally arriving at the Titanic Museum in Belfast at 5pm.
This year's Cannonball sees drivers fork out €1,250 per person sharing to take part in the exclusive three days of motoring, with nights spent at lavish Irish 4 and 5 star Hotels.
When last in Cavan the supercar fans got the chance to see everything from McLaren, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Maserati, Rolls Royce and Bentleys as they roared to a checkpoint at the Slieve Russell Hotel in Ballyconnell, all the while taking in stops along the Wild Atlantic Way, Hidden Heartlands and Ireland’s Ancient East.
Drivers even stopped off to delight young pupils at Aughadreena National School near Stradone.
Loosely based on spirit of the cult ‘Cannonball Run’ series of movies from the 1980s, any car enthusiasts and Cannonball fans wishing to see the cars along the route are asked to adhere to COVID-19 advice and maintain social distancing.
For more information about the run visit www.cannonball.ie.