Supercar Weekend in Dundrum SC supports Bumbleance

Supercar Weekend returns to Dundrum Town on 22 and 23 August, celebrating its fifth year as a free exotic automotive showcase, writes Brian Byrne. The event is in partnership with motoring marketplace Carzone, and supports charity partner Bumbleance. 

Over 100 prestige, performance, and classic vehicles will be on display, including the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, McLaren 720S, and Audi R8 V10 Plus.

New for 2026 are exclusive ticketed experiences: a morning VIP Experience offering early access, guided tours, and coffee, and “Five for Five: An Evening with Carl Mullan,” featuring a live panel with supercar owners. 

Interactive attractions like Carzone’s Coffee Zone and the Turbo Catch Challenge complete the line-up.

Motorsport competitor Kelsey Kirby will join Saturday's panel talk hosted by Anna Daly, and also featuring NEVO founder Derek Reilly, discussing the future of motorsport and supercars in a sustainable world. The Grand Prix Lounge in partnership with Sky will screen the Dutch Grand Prix live.

Free daytime admission runs from 11am to 5pm Saturday and 10:30am to 5pm Sunday at Dundrum Town’s Red Car Park, Level 1. 

Ford initiative raised €26,310 for Irish Guide Dogs

Ford Ireland has raised €26,310 for Irish Guide Dogs through its recent Drive 4 UR Community campaign, launched in September, writes Brian Byrne. The initiative ran nationwide across five weekends in September and October.

Customers were invited to take a free test drive, with €30 donated to Irish Guide Dogs for every drive taken. In participating Ford dealerships in Cork, Galway, Kildare, Limerick, and Dublin, over 877 test drives took place.

Irish Guide Dogs supports nearly 400 guide and assistance dog partnerships across Ireland, helping people who are vision impaired and families of children with autism to live with greater independence and confidence. 

Pictured are John Manning, Market Lead, Ford Ireland, and Tim O’Mahony, Chief Executive of Irish Guide Dogs, with Roz Purcell, who was the Ford ambassador for the programme. 

Cancelled Cannonball supports Barnardos GoFundMe appeal

A GoFundMe appeal on behalf of Barnardos is being supported by the organisers of the annual Cannonball supercar touring event which was due to raise funds for the charity, writes Brian Byrne.

The event, due to take place this coming weekend, was cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions. 

In normal circumstances over the last 12 years, it included a convoy of top mark cars including McLaren, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Maserati, Rolls Royce and Bentley and free family festivals all over the country. 

Search for ‘Barnardos Urgent Appeal’ on www.GoFundMe.com if you want to help.

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Enterprise helps Simon again

Enterprise Rent-A-Car has again teamed with the Dublin Simon Community to help their campaign for the homeless over Christmas.

Up to 20 Enterprise employees have volunteered to collect bags of donated winter clothing and food hampers from companies and organisations around Dublin over a 10-day period.

The Enterprise team, with its dedicated van, aims to transport around 50 bags per day to the Dublin Simon shops on Thomas Street and Camden Street in the coming days.

The donations that Dublin Simon shops receive are extremely important as they provide clothing and other items to people accessing their services, including individuals who are sleeping rough or using the charity’s emergency, supported housing or treatment services.

Donated items are also utilised by service users who are preparing for interviews and work placements, with some eventually going to those moving into a home of their own. Any remaining items are sold in the shops to raise vital funds.

Pictured above unloading another batch of donated items at the Simon Shop on Camden Street are George O’Connor, Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Neville Mills, Simon volunteer; John Colgan, Enterprise Rent-A-Car; and John Murphy, Simon volunteer.

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Cannonball rolls out tomorrow

The ninth Cannonball fundraiser drives off on Friday at 10am from the 3 Arena in Dublin, on a run that takes it through Dublin, Kinsale, Limerick, Galway Plaza, Claremorris, Sligo, Mullingar and Moneygall to finish on Sunday in Kilkenny.

Some 190 supercars will be involved, and the organisers are expecting around 160,000 spectators between the various stops, eager to see models from exotic brands like McLaren, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Maseratti, Rolls Royce and Bentley.

Cannonball has raised almost €900,000 for Irish charities and this year, proceeds will go to Make-a-Wish Ireland, a children's charity that grants magical wishes to children between the ages of 3-17 years with life-threatening medical conditions.

Renewable energy provider Hone is the headline sponsor for 2017, along with Audionetworks and the AMA Music Agency. Other sponsors include include Manhattan Popcorn, Advance Security, Krystle, Top Oil, Asystec, Mellett Electrical, Supermacs, Autokey, Karl Goodwin Motors, Monster, AB Signs and StitchMagic.

Route 66 Challenge off on September 20

The 6th trip by the Irish Route 66ers sets off on September 20 to once again ride down the iconic American highway from Chicago to Santa Monica on the Pacific Ocean.

The Route 66 Challenge event has been run every two years since 2002 and takes in 4,000km of the old route, raising money for Temple Street Childrens Hospital.

Past Challenges have raised a combined €3m which has been used in the refurbishment of the Accident/Emergency Unit, the Renal Unit, the purchase of a new CT Scanner and the building of a dedicated isolation unit for Cystic Fibrosis.

The participants this year hope to raise a further €300,000.

'Dream' motorcycles fundraiser

Geraldine O’Callaghan, last woman standing on The Apprentice Series 2, recently launched the ‘Live the Dream’ national draw to raise up to €70,000 for Temple Street Hospital.

The top prize is a choice of a Harley Davidson Electra Glide or a Honda Goldwing—both ultimate dream machines with a value of €28,000.

Keen motorcyclist Martin Breen has organised the draw where tickets are €50 each. The draw is limited to 1,500 tickets and hopes to raise close to €70,000 for Temple Street. Further prizes include €2,000 cash, Glens of Scotland Motorcycle tour for two, Bike world voucher for €600, and shopping voucher for €400 and driving lessons.

The draw will take place on the weekend of July 14. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 087 6031277 or from Facebook page ‘LiveTheDream’.

Geraldine is pictured here with Shay Kirk of the Irish 66'ers, a group of Irish motorbike enthusiasts who regularly drive across America to raise funds for the hospital.

Ladies ride out for cancer

Dublin’s only authorised Harley-Davidson dealership will be the starting point for a special charity event in aid of Action Breast Cancer on Sunday 25 October.

The GCI Ladies of Harley have organised the event and invite all motorcycle enthusiasts, both men and women, to join them in their fundraising ride-out that departs the Ballymount dealership at 12.30pm.

The event starts at 10am, with a light breakfast at the dealership. The route for the ride-out will depend on the weather and will end at Fillies Café Bar, Leopardstown Race Course. Riders do not need to own a Harley-Davidson® motorcycle to take part, and are asked to donate €15 per bike (€20 with passenger), which will go towards Action Breast Cancer.

Limited-edition Dublin Harley-Davidson Pink Bar & Shield T-shirts will be on sale at the dealership and the proceeds will also go towards the charity.