Retro Cannonball all set to roll into Westport

After the excitement surrounding the big Relay for Life cancer fundraiser in Westport last weekend, there is another big fundraising event set to roll in the west Mayo town next weekend.

On Friday evening next, May 24, Retro Cannonball will arrive 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 Westport this year and arrives to Westport Plaza Hotel at 6pm. 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 Co.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. 102 children have been cared for by the charity in Co Mayo since its inception in 1997.

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 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s 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 this year on Friday next at 9.30am and leaves at 10.30am. It then heads up The Wild Atlantic Way with lunch in Fiddle and Bow Hotel in Co Clare. It then continues along the Wild Atlantic Way with its mesmerising tapestry of rugged coastline and dramatic cliffs to arrive to for an overnight stay in the vibrant town of Westport. On 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 and then 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. Spectators can get up close, view the cars and take photographs at each of the start and finish lines, pitstops and lunch stops.

“We are welcoming cars from the golden era of the 60’s,70’s, 80’s and early 90’s 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 on from September 6 to 8 this year and a firm favourite with both drivers and spectators with proceeds to the Jack and Jill. 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.