We like to think of it as Ireland's very own Fast And Furious event (albeit, *sad face*, with no Vin Diesel and no The Rock): yup, CannonBall has now kicked off at the 3Arena in Dublin.

In its eight year, the supercar spectacle has raised more than €850,000 for Irish charities and this year all proceeds will go to Pieta House. 

Some 190 supercars are taking part for 2016 – watched by more than 150,000 spectators who will line the streets around Dublin, Cavan, Westport, Bunratty, Galway, Tullamore and Wexford over the next three days. 

British actor Bruno Langley of Doctor Who fame, Todd Grimshaw and Ryan Thomas from Coronation Street, Glenda Gilson, Eoghan McDermott, Miriam O'Callaghan, George Hook, Michelle McGrath and Emma Quinlan are all taking part in some capacity and were on hand this morning to kick-off proceedings in Dublin. 

And as the vehicles pull into their pitstops around Ireland, family-friendly festivals will herald their arrival – think the likes of Las Vegas show girls, live music, DJs, local entertainers, confetti cannons, lots of Manhattan popcorn, and Cannonball official merchandise.

Pieta House, a suicide and self-harm crisis centre with nine centres throughout Ireland and one in New York providing a free professional one-to-one therapeutic service.

Many of the cars – which includes the likes of Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Masseratti, Rolls Royce and Bentley – have come from UK, other areas in Europe and Dubai. In total, the fleet is worth around €30m.