Most Spectacular ever Finish Line for Cannonball in Tullamore
Thousands flocked to Tullamore for the CANNONBALL Festival from Thursday September 11th until Sunday September 14th when fans got up close and personal with 160 of the world’s top mark cars such as McLaren, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Masseratti, Rolls Royce and Bentley. 2014 is the second year that CANNONBALL came to Tullamore and this year the atmosphere was electric as the town hosted the biggest ever CANNONBALL finish line and festival. Tullamore was a spectacular sight as 160 of the finest cars on the planet reached the finish line of CANNONBALL 2014 at 5pm on Sunday September 14th and a whole programme of events was planned for the town for the 4 days leading up to it.. Ireland’s glitterati and celebrities were out in force for CANNONBALL, the adrenalin-fuelled action-packed Supercar spectacle, which originated in Ireland six years ago and is now the largest organized road trip in Europe.
The motorized masquerade of Supercars roaring into Tullamore was already an awesome spectacle but added to this is was a whole CANNONBALL Festival of FREE family events. On Saturday 13th September, a Thrashing and BBQ Hoedown took place at Market Square with Car Displays, Tug O War, Local Bands, Pig on a Spit and live music with local bands. Then on Sunday September 14th the thrilling Copper Pot Soap Box Derby tore through town from High Street to O Connor Square with lots of family entertainment including bouncing castles, water Zorbing and a gig rig on where Ruaile Buaile, Jig Jam, Hogan, Rugged Wood and more performed. Tullamore GAA Club ran a penalty shoot out competition and finally, to top off the mad-cap crazy CANNONBALL antics, Kilbride St hosted a pig race at7.30pm on the 14th after the Supercars arrived through Patrick St with entertainment until 11pm and into the early hours.
The atmosphere in Bundoran was electric with 450 colourful Cannonballers in wild costumes. Celebrities included Boyzone’s Shane Lynch, Corrie heart throb Ryan Thomas and co-star Martin Hancock, MTV’s Mathew Pritchard (Dirty Sanchez), Monster Drifters Luke Woodham & Butsy Butler, Rosanna Davison & Wes Quirke, Roz Purcell, Nicola Hughes (rumoured to be dating MIC’s Alex Mytton), Emma Quinlan, 2FMs Colm Hayes, UK reality Star Matt Peacock and many more.
CANNONBALL, sponsored by Manhattan Popcorn, is the most exciting motoring and social event of the year with most of the world’s top mark cars such as McLaren, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Masseratti, Rolls Royce and Bentley. Fans can experience the thrill of the chase as the finest cars on the planet are on display in each host town kicking off with a live broadcast from Ryan Tubridy at the O2. The gleaming convoy will drive through 850KM of Irish open roads from September 12th to 14th but this year the spectacular convoy will be more impressive than ever with Festivals all over the country and a quarter of the supercars coming in from the UK, Europe and even Dubai with the highest ever number of top mark cars.
Over 100,000 people lined the streets as CANNONBALL roared 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 was infused with an electric atmosphere featuring Brazilian dancers, live music, DJs, The Monster Energy JAM Truck, stunt riders, aerobatic displays, local entertainers, confetti cannons, lots of Manhattan popcorn, Cannonball official merchandise and, of course, the unmistakable roar of 160 supercars. CANNONBALL 6 raised 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 route showcases beautiful villages, towns and famous Irish Landmarks to both Irish and foreign Cannonballers and fans. 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.
CANNONBALL is the brainchild of Kildare Businessman and AB Signs proprietor, Alan Bannon and is now in its sixth year having already raised over €600,000 for Children’s charities “Cannonball 6 is set to be one of the most spectacular events of 2014” said Don O Neil of Manhattan Popcorn, main sponsor of Cannonball “ We are very proud to be part of this exhilarating event and to help raise funds for the Make a Wish Foundation. Popcorn goes with all good movies but we are getting the opportunity to bring this mad cap movie to life and there will be lots of Manhattan popcorn on the route to celebrate our association with Cannonball” he continued. The success of CANNONBALL Ireland led to the dawn of the annual Continental Cannonball event every June and this year CANNONBALL made headlines in Holland, Germany and Switzerland 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. The CANNONBALL tour sponsor for 2014 is Carzone.ie and associated sponsors include Paddy Connolly Specialist Cars, 37 Dawson Street, The Bridge House Hotel Tullamore, BP Mitchell, Autokey.ie, Best Western Montenotti, 4×4 Exports and AB Signs. Tour Sponsors included Supermacs and Colm Quinn Motors. Seewww.cannonball.ie for further details, routes and events.
