Dublin, Donegal, Westport, Killarney and Cork are going to get an influx of Ireland's finest cars this weekend as the second annual Cannonball run, in aid of Barretstown Children's Charity, takes to the roads.
The run will see over 120 of Ireland's best cars, including models from Ferrari, Porsche, Bentley and Lamborghini, drive over 500 kilometres through ten counties to raise money for the Paul Newman charity that rebuilds the lives of children affected by serious illness. Last year's event, which raised over €120,000 for Barretstown, was supported well with three days of glorious sunshine drawing local support out on to the streets along the route.
This year's event will start with a rendezvous of all of the cars and drivers at Merrion Square in Dublin City this Friday morning at 9 am (September 10), where the atmosphere will begin to build in anticipation of the run. At 10 am the cars will depart in convoy under Garda escort for Donegal town where the cars will park-up at Solis Lough Eske for lunch before heading to Westport for a street festival.
Saturday will see the convoy call to Ashford Castle in County Mayo before arriving in the picturesque village of Clarinbridge in County Galway - to open the 2010 Clarinbridge Oyster Festival while enjoying an air display.
It's back in the driver's seat then and off to Killarney, where, the Cannonballers will be welcomed - for the Cannonball Gala Ball at the Malton Hotel - by DJ Botty and hundreds of cheering locals (if last year is anything to go by).
On Sunday, the road show heads to Cork City where the River Lee will be the back drop for a fireworks display to end the event.
So, if you want to support a good cause and feel like Burt Reynolds or Sally Field from "Smokey and the Bandit" for a weekend, spots are still available and more can be found at www.cannonball.ie.