Cannonball fundraising total for children's charity nears €800,000

Cannonball Ireland, the fundraising supercar road trip, has announced that it's raised a phenomenal total of €781,914 for the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation since 2022.

This year's events included a Retro Cannonball classic car event which visited Athlone and parts of Offaly in June, and the largest-ever Cannonball spectacle which visited Edenderry and Daingean in Offaly in September.

Organisers said the latter event, from September 12-14, saw more than 250,000 spectators line streets across Ireland for Cannonball Ireland, sponsored by Circle K.

Some 200 spectacular supercars, hypercars, celebrities, helicopters and colourful Cannonball drivers and participants in costume rolled into towns and villages for the free high-octane event.

Funds were raised through a number of initiatives, including the nationwide campaign, "When You Fill, Support Jack and Jill" by Circle K Ireland, which saw 1 cent from every litre of miles and miles+ fuel sold at Circle K sites across Ireland donated during the Cannonball weekend.

That campaign alone generated €100,000, funding the equivalent of 5,555 hours of specialist in-home nursing care for families supported by Jack and Jill.

The final figure raised by Cannonball Ireland for the Jack and Jill Children's foundation has now reached €781,914 and the overall total raised by Cannonball for Irish Children’s Charities is €2,271,716.

Deirdre Walsh, CEO of Jack and Jill said: "All of us at Jack and Jill are blown away by the funds raised this year through our partnership with Cannonball and Circle K, translating to 17,710 hours of in-home nursing and respite care for 456 Jack and Jill families nationwide.

"Over our three-year partnership, an incredible €781,914 has been raised, funding 43,438 hours of vital care.

"This partnership has been a true game-changer not just in funds and care hours, but in community spirit and meaningful connection. Travelling across Ireland with the Cannonball crew and meeting our wonderful families is always a joy.

"We're so grateful to the Cannonball community for their time, creativity and energy in making our families part of this spectacular event and ensuring Cannonball 2025 was such a success," Ms Walsh added.

Now in its 15th year, Cannonball is described as the largest organised road trip in Europe, featuring some of the world’s most prestigious marques - from Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren to Porsche, Aston Martin and Maserati.

Founded by Kildare businessman Alan Bannon, the event also delivers an estimated €2.56m in economic benefit to host towns each year.