Virginia was car-azy for Cannonball

Cannonball took in Kerry, Clare, Galway, Westmeath, Longford, Meath, Cavan, Louth and finished at the Titanic Quarter in Belfast

Published: Thu 23 Sep 2021, 12:14 PM

Last updated: Thu 23 Sep 2021, 1:01 PM

Cannonball arrived into Virginia Park Lodge for a quick pitstop and some of their world famous hospitality last Sunday, much to the delight of local car enthusiasts.

Top mark cars included, not one but two spectacular Ford GTs for the first time in Ireland- a stunning Ford GT Carbon Series and a magnificent Ford GT Heritage Series with the famous Gulf Livery.

NOAH SHARKEY AGE 3 , HARRY SHARKEY AGE 5 from Virginia pictured at the arrival of Cannonball to Virginia last Sunday. Picture by Kasia Farat Photo by Kasia_Farat

The Ferrari Pista Piloti also took a starring role as well as the 3 Lamborghini Aventador SVJs. Cannonball, fuelled by milesPlus from Circle K, also features firm favourites McLaren, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Maserati, Rolls Royce and Bentley.

Tieran Croasdell age 4 from Virginia Picture by Kasia Farat Photo by Kasia_Farat

Newly crowned Miss Ireland Pamela Uba did the honours this year and dropped the famous chequered flag before they set off on their epic road trip around Ireland.

The event has already raised €1,150,000 for Irish charities and, this year, the official charity of Cannonball will be The HOPE Foundation, an Irish Charity doing incredible work with the street children of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) in India.

Cannonball has already raised €110,000 and still counting for The HOPE Foundation - an Irish Charity doing incredible work with the street children of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) in India. Picture by Kasia Farat

HOPE funds and operates over 60 projects including 11 child protection homes, a hospital, an ambulance, counselling, food and nutrition, education, healthcare and the restoration of childhoods to children. The supercars blazed a trail from coast to coast with proceeds to the HOPE Foundation and so far have raised €110,000 and still counting as donations are still coming in.

Cannonball took in Kerry, Clare, Galway, Westmeath, Longford, Meath, Cavan, Louth and finished at the Titanic Quarter in Belfast this year.

Teddy Murphy age 3 and Darce Murphy age 8 from Virginia Picture by Kasia Farat Photo by Kasia_Farat

Cannonball is fully compliant with government COVID-19 guidelines and is an outdoor event. Any car enthusiasts and Cannonball fans wishing to come out to see the cars on the route were asked to adhere to the advice of the Cannonball COVID-19 marshals and maintain social distancing. The cars did not stop in towns this year.

Cannonball was founded by Kildare businessman Alan Bannon 12 years ago, and now the event is the largest organised road trip in Europe.