Cannonball race will pass through Athlone

Local car enthusiasts will be be thrilled that the some of the world’s most spectacular sportscars will be winging their way through Athlone briefly, this coming weekend.

More than €1.1million has been raised by Cannonball runs since their first outing more than a decade ago, with the HOPE Foundation, which works with street children in the Indian city of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), chosen this year’s official charity.

The 2021 Cannonball run set off from Dublin’s Malahide Castle on Friday at 10am, before arriving at Lapps Quay in Cork City via Shanagarry, Fermoy and Midleton at 5.30pm.

Day 2, Saturday, September 18, saw the convoy set off from Cork and end up in Galway, via Molls Gap and the Tarbert Ferry.

Day 3, Sunday, September 19, will see the cars set off from Galway at 10.30am, driving through Athlone, before arriving at Ballymachugh in Cavan via the N55 and R194 before the drivers then stop for lunch.

At 2.30pm the cars and their owners will head for Slane Village from Cavan, driving through at 3pm, finally arriving at the Titanic Museum in Belfast at 5pm.

Further details of the timings and route around Athlone will be published on Cannonball.ie later on Saturday.