It seems appropriate, given that it's 2023 and this year marks the 60th anniversary of the foundation of Lamborghini as a car maker, that we're about to see the greatest ever number of those Italian supercars here in Ireland.
60th anniversary of Lamborghini itself
The herd of bulls - so to speak - will be landing on Irish shores for the 2023 running of the Cannonball Run charity supercar event. Rolling across the country from the 15th to the 17th of September, the Cannonball will be a massive celebration of the Lamborghini brand. This is also appropriate - as anyone who remembers the opening moments of the 1981 film The Cannonball Run, the soundtrack is dominated as much by the howl of a black Lamborghini Countach's V12 engine as it is the pop-rock title song.
So, which Lambos are coming to Ireland? According to the event's organisers, Cannonball spectators will see both new and classic models. The new cars will include the Lamborghini Huracan STO, EVO, Performante, and Fluo Capsule versions and Lamborghini Urus and Urus model S SUVs. Classic versions will include the Lamborghini Aventador with models S, SVJ and SV, as well as the Lamborghini Diablo GTC and the Lamborghini Murciélago and Gallardo.
Starts from Malahide Castle
This year, the event begins at Malahide Castle on Friday, September 15, and spectators can view the cars from Thursday evening, September 14. The event will depart Malahide at 10.30am, take a fuel stop in Circle K in Kells Co Meath and at noon, then blaze a trail to Cavan for a lunch stop at the Slieve Russell Hotel and then on to Ballina, Co Mayo for the first overnight stop. On Saturday, September 16 the convoy will leave the Quay in Ballina at 10.30am and travel to Salthill Hotel Co Galway for lunch at 1pm, a fuel stop at 3.30pm in Circle K Moneygall and then onwards to Pery Square Limerick City for the second finish line in association with Limerick City and County Council. On Sunday, September 17 the supercars will leave Limerick City at 10.30am, then fuel up at Circle K Fermoy and then onwards to Cork for lunch at Fota Island Resort before a big dramatic final finish line in Kilkenny City at 6pm in association with Kilkenny County Council.
Raising money for Jack & Jill
As ever, amid the Brazilian carnival dancers, the DJs, the big screens, and the sheer noise and sight of all those Lambos (and sundry other supercars), there's a good cause at the heart of it all. This year, the official charity of Cannonball is The Jack and Jill Children's Foundation - an Irish children's charity that funds and delivers in-home nursing care, respite support and end-of-life care for children who have highly complex and life-limiting medical conditions. Cannonball has already raised €1,538,602 for Irish charities since Kildare businessman Alan Bannon founded it.
This year's Cannonball Run supporters include Circle K Miles Plus, Apache Pizza, Karl Goodwin Motors, AB Signs, HONE Energy, Majestic Ireland Road Trips, Capital Switchgear and SILENT-AIRE.