Cannonball set to blast off from Enfield in September

Cannonball teams up with The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation and Radio Nova’s PJ Gallagher and Jim McCabe in high-octane charity mission

PJ Gallagher and Jim McCabe from Radio Nova tried out an Aston Martin DB11 as they announced that the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation is the official charity partner for Cannonball 2025 and the official start line this year will be at Johnstown Estate in Enfield on September 12 at 10am.

Cannonball founder Alan Bannon confirmed that the route this year goes from Johnstown Estate to Ballymaloe, Killarney, Clare, Sligo and Cavan, and finishes in Naas.

Cannonball, fuelled by miles+ from Circle K, is the largest organised road trip in Europe, featuring cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche, Aston Martin, and Maserati.

More than 200,000 spectators are expected at the free events along the way.

Cars will begin to arrive at Johnstown Estate on Thursday September 11 and spectators will be able to view the cars from around 6pm.

On Friday September 12 at 10am, the cars will leave Johnstown Estate.

Jude Mangan (4) from Dublin, his brother Cillian (7), mam Sandra and dad Ruairi were also at the launch event.

Jude was born with rare condition called Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC), a congenital brain abnormality and requires round-the-clock care. Jude was also diagnosed with cancer in November 2023 and completed his treatment in January 2025.

He is doing well today.

Jude’s family are among the 440 families across Ireland currently under the care of the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation.

PJ Gallagher and Jim McCabe, presenters of Morning Glory on Radio Nova, stated: “We broadcast our show from the start line at Cannonball last year and we were blown away by the atmosphere and the buzz of it all.

“We can’t wait to be there at the start line at Johnstown Estate again on 12 September. We’ve long been supporters of the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation and are proud to help raise awareness for what promises to be a spectacular fundraiser for the charity.”

$2m raised

Cannonball has already raised €2,024,809 for Irish children’s charities and brings an electric atmosphere to host towns all over the country, making it a widely anticipated free family event for spectators.

The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation funds and delivers in-home nursing care, respite support and end-of-life care for children from birth to six years of age with severe learning disability often associated with complex medical needs, and is often described as a ‘lifeline’, giving exhausted parent carers a break from their 24/7 care regime.

Jack and Jill’s service operates seven days a week; there is no means test, no red tape and no waiting list.

Cannonball includes Brazilian dancers, giant screens, live DJs, bands and all the glamour of a carnival in host towns around the country.

The Cannonballers and celebrities wear colourful costumes add to the pageantry, from Spiderman to Star Wars, Cat Woman to Wonder Woman, cheerleaders to Charlie’s Angels, Batman, the Joker and more.

This year, organisers are also calling on spectators to dress up in fancy dress with prizes for best dressed.

About Cannonball

Cannonball was founded by Kildare businessman Alan Bannon and the benefit to the host towns for this event is estimated at €2,567,000 per year. Cannonball is fuelled by milesPLUS from Circle K as the main headline Sponsor for 2025.

Cannonball official partners include Jade Insurance, Monster Energy, Capital Switch, and Combilift. Karl Goodwin Motors, AB Signs, Majestic Ireland Road Trips.

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About the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation

Jack and Jill is a nationwide charity that funds and provides up to 100 hours per month of in-home nursing care and respite support to families caring for children, up to the age of six, with severe learning disability often associated with complex medical needs.

Typically, these children may be tube fed, oxygen dependent, may not sleep, take seizures, need a lot of medication and require around-the-clock care. Understandably, their parents can be exhausted and need a break, which is where Jack and Jill comes in. Jack and Jill’s service operates seven days a week, with no means test, no red tape and no waiting list. Another key part of the service is end-of-life-care for all children up to the age six, irrespective of diagnosis, empowering parents to take their child home to die at this most difficult time.

Jack and Jill was founded by parents Jonathan Irwin and Mary Ann O’Brien in 1997, based on their experience of caring for their son Jack. Jack and Jill’s mission is to empower the families it supports to care for their child at home, by funding and delivering nursing, respite and advocacy. The charity must raise over €7.9 Million in 2025 to keep this vital service going, with approximately 21.5% coming from the HSE.

Jack and Jill currently supports 440 families in communities across Ireland and has supported 3,153 families since 1997. This support is often described as ‘a gift of time’ or a ‘lifeline’, giving parent carers a break from their 24/7 care regime, safe in the knowledge that their child is well cared for at home, where they belong.

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