Preparations underway for eighth annual Darkness into Light in one Tipperary town

Final preparations are now well underway for the upcoming Darkness Into Light 5km walk/run, which takes place early on the morning of this coming Saturday, May 11, at 4:15am.

The Committee have been working hard again this year promoting this excellent fundraiser for Pieta House, now on its eighth outing in Thurles.

The committee are also delighted to announce that local Instagram star Aidan Loughnane (@runningwithaidan) has agreed to come on board and welcome the crowd before they set off on the route around the town.

Chairperson for the event in Thurles, Jonathan Gleeson said: “We continue to be truly overwhelmed by the sheer scale of support we receive every year for this event, and we are also delighted to have Aidan on board this year.

"We would particularly like to thank David Morgan and all his team at FBD Semple Stadium for providing us with the perfect facility for this event and for all their hard work in preparing the Dome and grounds for DIL 2024”.

Some details for those attending: Darkness Into Light (DIL), will start in the early hours (4.15am) of Saturday, May 11 (that’s very early on Saturday morning after an early night on Friday!), from the Dome at FBD Semple Stadium, on a 5km route around Thurles, while the dawn is breaking.

The DIL committee is asking everyone to arrive at least 45 minutes early, ie. 3:30am, as it will commence at 4:15am sharp.

There will be no parking available at the Dome itself (for safety reasons due to crowd congregation) however, parking has been arranged across the road on the Greyhound Track and at the TUS university campus (formerly LIT) - there will be stewards on hand to direct traffic.

Stewards will also be stationed at each junction on the route and the walking crowd will be led by a garda patrol, followed by Order of Malta.

Dress warmly - layers are a good idea, and some kind of waterproof jacket too. A hat, scarf and gloves are recommended! Also, bring a torch if you can.

Dogs on a lead are welcome. However, please keep them on their lead and clean up after them. Remember that there will be children and other dogs around, so they must be friendly!

On return to the Dome, there will be tea/coffee/water served, a tasty breakfast bap, and some excellent live music by the Ursuline Chamber Choir, so this event is not to be missed!

The DIL Committee is giving the final push this week and urging everyone to register online for this year’s event at www.darknessintolight.ie.

Finally, a reminder to please find, like and share the DIL Thurles (@dilthurles) Social Media pages on Facebook and Instagram. We look forward to welcoming you all on May 11!