From 12 to 14 September, more than 250,000 people lined streets across Ireland to welcome Cannonball Ireland, fuelled by miles+ from Circle K. Two hundred supercars and hypercars, plus celebrities, helicopters and the event’s famously costumed crews, rolled into towns and villages and turned each stop into free family entertainment. Beneath the spectacle, Cannonball’s real engine is community, raising funds, lifting spirits and connecting people.
This year’s fundraising centred on a nationwide Circle K initiative, “When You Fill, Support Jack and Jill.” For every litre of miles and miles+ fuel sold over the Cannonball weekend, Circle K donated one cent to The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation. That single campaign raised €100,000, the equivalent of 5,555 hours of specialist in home nursing care for families the charity supports.
Cannonball’s official charity for 2025 was The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation, an Irish organisation that funds and provides up to 100 hours per month of in home nursing, respite and end of life care for children from birth to seven with severe learning disabilities and complex medical needs. The partnership once again delivered at scale. “All of us at Jack and Jill are blown away by the funds raised this year through our partnership with Cannonball and Circle K,” said Deirdre Walsh, CEO of Jack and Jill. “It translates to 17,710 hours of in home nursing and respite care for 456 families nationwide. Over our three year partnership, an incredible €781,914 has been raised, funding 43,438 hours of vital care.”
Walsh added that the collaboration is about more than numbers. Travelling with the Cannonball convoy and meeting families along the route has become a highlight, bringing visibility, joy and a sense of belonging to communities across the country. The generosity and energy of participants and spectators, she said, made Cannonball 2025 a true success.
Circle K Ireland once again played a pivotal role. “It was fantastic to support Cannonball and Jack and Jill again this year,” said Ciara Foxton, Managing Director of Circle K Ireland. “Our ‘When You Fill, Support Jack and Jill’ campaign continues to capture the imagination of customers and colleagues, and we’re incredibly proud that together we raised €100,000 to support the remarkable work of the foundation.” She noted that since 2022 the partnership with Cannonball has raised €781,914 in total. Foxton offered thanks to the Cannonball team, Circle K colleagues nationwide and the customers whose enthusiasm powers the campaign each year.
For Cannonball founder Alan Bannon, the fundraising total is a milestone and a motivator. “Raising over three quarters of a million euro for Jack and Jill is something we’re incredibly proud of,” he said. “Each year, the Cannonball family, our sponsors, participants, spectators and crew, come together not just for the love of cars, but to make a real difference for Irish children and families. This achievement is a testament to the generosity, energy and heart that fuel Cannonball.”
Now in its fifteenth year, Cannonball is Europe’s largest organised road trip, showcasing some of the world’s most prestigious marques, from Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren to Porsche, Aston Martin and Maserati. Founded by Kildare entrepreneur Alan Bannon, the event also delivers an estimated €2.56 million in economic benefit to host towns annually, filling hotels and restaurants and shining a spotlight on local attractions. Beyond the headline figures and roaring engines, Cannonball has evolved into a travelling festival that merges automotive theatre with purposeful giving.
The 2025 run was proudly fuelled by milesPLUS from Circle K Ireland, designed for better engine protection and longer engine life. A strong partner network helps bring the show to life each year, including Jade Insurance, Monster Energy, Capital Switch, Combilift, Karl Goodwin Motors, Task Security Systems, AB Signs and Majestic Ireland Road Trips. Together, they support an event that delights crowds and channels that excitement into practical help for families who need it most.
As the chequered flag falls on another memorable year, the legacy of Cannonball Ireland continues to be written by the communities it visits and the families it supports. The supercars may draw the crowds, but it is compassion, and the collective effort behind it, that keeps this event moving forward. For more information, visit cannonball.ie.
