Retro Cannonball classic car event returning to Westmeath

This year, the Retro Cannonball event will stop in Athlone from June 13 to June 15, with all proceeds going to the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation.

The event will follow a route over two days, starting in Little Island Cork, and finishing at the Ballymascanlon Hotel in County Louth.

The route will cover counties Cork, Tipperary, Offaly, Tyrone, Louth and Westmeath, finishing day one at The Sheraton Hotel in Athlone.

Visitors to the Athlone event can witness rare classic cars, meet the drivers, and take photographs, as the drivers have their first overnight stay of the event, at The Sheraton Hotel.

On day two, the convoy will travel through County Westmeath, heading north to County Tyrone, where it will stop at Corick House Hotel for Lunch.

The convoy will include rare cars like the Lamborghini Diablo, Jaguar E-Type, Ferrari 358 GTS and the Porsche 911.

Spectators can get up close, view the cars and take photographs at each of the start and finish lines, pitstops and lunch stops.

Alan Bannon, Cannonball founder, said “.We are welcoming cars from the golden era of the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and early 90’s to take in stunning drives and many famous Irish landmarks.

“Classic cars not only appeal to car lovers but also to lovers of engineering, design, art and history.

“They retain an incurable romance and that is the reason why people do, and always will, love classic cars.”