Ballina comes alive for Cannonball 2014

Ballina comes alive for Cannonball 2014


The sun shone brightly last Saturday afternoon in Ballina as thousands turned out on the streets of the Quay area in Ballina to welcome 160 of the finest cars on the planet as part of the fundraising Cannonball tour.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and former President Mary Robinson were on hand to greet the participants and mingle with the thousands who came to Ballina to soak up the festival atmosphere at this free family event.
Car enthusiasts from all over the west of Ireland had the chance to get up close and take pictures with top marque cars such as McLaren, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Masseratti, Rolls Royce, Bentley and the brand new BMW i8. Cannonball began six years ago and is now the largest organised road trip in Europe.
There was a real buzz around the north Mayo capital with live music and entertainment outside Crocket’s on the Quay and a food village with face painters and children’s entertainment. River boats were decked out to welcome the cars to town with a regatta on the water including boats, kayaks, stunt displays and much more.  The Sligo search and rescue helicopter also carried out a demonstration before the cars left the Quay Village to snake through town shortly after 3pm, with former President Robinson dropping the famous Chequered Flag.
Over 450 colourful Cannonballers were dressed in wild costumes and celebrities including Boyzone’s Shane Lynch, Corrie heart throb Ryan Thomas and co-star Martin Hancock, MTV’s Mathew Pritchard (Dirty Sanchez), Monster Drifters Luke Woodham and Butsy Butler, actor Simon Delaney, Rosanna Davison and Wes Quirke, Roz Purcell, 2FM’s Ryan Tubridy, Nicky Byrne, Eoghan McDermott, Colm Hayes were all in attendance.
Cannonball is the brainchild of Kildare businessman and AB Signs proprietor, Alan Bannon, and this year the funds raised will go towards the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  

For more see www.cannonball.ie.