It is the largest organised road trip in Europe, 180 of the finest cars on the planet, €700,000 raised for children’s charities, celebrities out in force, 820KM of Irish open roads, live music, dancers, stunt riders, aerobatic displays and the awesome sight of over 150,000 spectators waving chequered flags in a frenzy of anticipation.
On Friday September 11th, 2015 from 9am CANNONBALL 2015 revvs up with a mightly roar at the 3Arena, Northwall Quay Dublin 1 and sets off for an epic adventure blazing a trail around Ireland. Sponsored by Manhattan Popcorn, CANNONBALL goes up a gear once again with 180 supercars and over 150,000 spectators expected to line the streets all over Ireland. Soap stars Ryan Thomas from Coronation St and Adam Thomas from Emmerdale will be joining celebrity cannonballers this year and some of the most unique cars in the world are being shipped in for the event this year. Spectators are welcome to get up close and personal to the cars and crazy Cannonballers outside the iconic 3Arena and soak up the supercharged atmosphere for 2 hours before the cars set off at 11am. The gleaming convoy will drive through 820KM of Irish open roads through Dublin, Leitrim, Sligo, The Wild Atlantic Way, Killaloe, Killarney, Cahir and finishing in Wexford.
A quarter of the supercars are coming in from the UK, Europe and even Dubai with the highest ever number of top mark cars worth an estimated €23 million including McLaren, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Masseratti, Rolls Royce and Bentley. New in 2015 are the Pagani Zonda, Keonigsegg and Carrera GT. These are 3 of the most unique cars in the world with a combined value of €4 million. Some of the novelty cars on Cannonball this year include an authentic Delorean complete with Doc and Marty McFly, An NYPD Car with full kit, Smokey and the Bandit Truck, The Ghostbusters Sheriff car and a most unusual Top Gun inspired car. CANNONBALL is the brainchild of Kildare Businessman and AB Signs proprietor, Alan Bannon and is now in its seventh year having already raised over €700,000 for Children’s charities. Celebrities include Soap brothers Ryan and Adam Thomas from Coronation St and Emmerdale, Boyzone star Shane Lynch and Dirty Sanchez, heart throbs Mat Peacock and Wes Quirke, celebrity chef Rachel Allen, Rugby ace Mick Galway, Model Emma Quinlan and many more. Cannonball never disappoints in the celeb stakes and the notorious NYPD, German Polizei, Fr Willie and colourful Cannonballers in crazy costumes add to the melee.
CANNONBALL will blaze a trail through towns and counties in spectacular style with FREE family friendly festivals all over the country. Each start and finish line at each host town is infused with an electric atmosphere featuring Brazilian dancers, live music, DJs, The Monster Energy JAM Truck, local entertainers and dignitaries, confetti cannons, lots of Manhattan popcorn, CANNONBALL official merchandise and, of course, the unmistakable roar of 180 supercars. CANNONBALL 7 will raise money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation which is a children’s charity that grants magical wishes to children between the ages of 3 – 17 years with life-threatening medical conditions. The benefit to the Irish economy of this event is estimated at €2,567,000 and most of this is spread evenly throughout the counties and towns visited.
“We are very proud to be part of Cannonball again in 2015 and to help raise funds for the Make a Wish Foundation. Movies and popcorn and inextricably linked but we have the opportunity to bring this mad cap movie to life! There will be lots of Manhattan popcorn on the route for spectators as they watch the supercar convoy and soak up the supercharged festival atmosphere” said Don O Neil of Manhattan Popcorn, main sponsor of Cannonball. The success of CANNONBALL Ireland has led to international events and this year CANNONBALL made headlines in Scotland at the Highland trip as well as the UK, Germany, Denmark and Norway in the Europen Trip as they roared through in spectacular style leaving their mark with the style, excitement and spectacle that CANNONBALL is now becoming renowned for all over the world. Manhattan Popcorn is the CANNONBALL Headline Sponsor, The tour sponsor for 2015 is Carzone.ie and associated sponsors include Paddy Connolly Specialist Cars, 37 Dawson Street, Solus, Autokey.ie, Best Western Montenotti, Triska Energy, Carrig Brewing Company, Charles Hurst, TPI & Cades Wheels and AB Signs. See www.cannonball.ie for further details, routes and events.