Cannonball enjoys blazing finish in Kildare
The Popemobile crosses the finish line at Cannonball Photos: Aisling Hyland
THE streets of Naas were thronged as Cannonball, the action-packed supercar spectacle, finished where it started in Kildare with proceeds to The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation.
Cannonball is the largest organised road trip in Europe and featured a mind-boggling 207 of the finest cars on the planet from the awe-inspiring power of Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren to the grace and elegance of Porsche, Aston Martin, and Maserati.
Cannonball was founded by Kildare businessman Alan Bannon and the benefit to the host towns nationally for this event is estimated at over €2,500,000 per year.
“It went well, there was a great turnout in Naas,” said Alan.
“It was comparative to when Kildare won Leinster in 1998, the crowds were three and four deep all the way from the Racecourse to Swan’s, estimated to be around 30,000 people.
“We’re really happy, we spent a lot of money promoting Naas and it’s nice to see the charity supported by Kildare people."
While the charity has raised over €2m for the Jack and Jill Foundation since 2009, Alan was unable to say how much this year’s Cannonball added.
“Not just yet, it will probably be another week or so to learn what we raised,” he said. “Cannonball is based here in Naas, out in Tougher’s, and we’d love to have it back in the town.
”The fact we got such a welcome, we’d love to bring it back.
“The feedback was positive and the council was happy, even if the weather wasn’t great, there was a nice buzz about it."
Cannonball has already raised €2,024,809 for Irish charities to date and brings a unique and inimitable electric atmosphere to host towns all over the country.
On Thursday (11 September) the Cannonball crew rolled into Johnstown Estate Enfield to get set for another adrenaline-fuelled event.
On Friday, the convoy proceeded to parade through Edenderry, continued towards Daingean and the Tullamore ring road to Portlaoise before heading south to Cork.
It was onto Kerry, and on Saturday the event travelled to Sligo before heading across Connacht and Leinster to the Naas finish line.
More photos in the Kildare Nationalist on 23 September.
