‘Looks like we’ve got us a convoy’ as Cannonball run sets off on its annual tour

TIM O'BRIEN

The back roads and lanes around Creagh, Co Kildare, reverberated to the deep-throated roars of powerful performance cars yesterday morning, as the three-day Cannonball 2013 got under way from Mondello Park.

The convoy of more than 150 cars set off on tour across the country and will take in Cork and Kerry before finishing in Tullamore, Co Offaly, tomorrow.

Funds raised by the event are in aid of the children’s hospice charity, LauraLynn House.

This year’s rally has an American theme with “muscle cars” and vehicles emblazoned with NYPD logos as well as a range of four-wheel drives and at least one Hummer. There are also cowboys and “show girls” in fancy dress.

Some heavily stickered family saloons competed for space with some of the world’s most famous names, including McLaren, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Maserati, Rolls Royce and Bentley.

This morning the convoy leaves Cork at 10.30am to take in a scenic drive through Kenmare and Killarney. It is scheduled to arrive into Limerick amid an expected cacophony of horns at 5.30pm.

The cars will travel tomorrow to Killaloe, Co Clare, for a “Gathering of the Men of the Water”, after which they will move on to Cashel, Co Tipperary, at 1.30pm where they will close a Cannonball Festival before descending on Tullamore at 6pm for the finish line.

The organisers say they expect a crowd of more then 10,000 people in Tullamore. “The convoy stretches for about two kilometres,” said organiser Alan Bannon. “There is a huge festival feel to it and it is a free event.”