Light Up The Night Truck Run set to return for third year

20/02/2026

The Light Up The Night Truck Run: Edenderry to Kanturk will return on Saturday, April 4th, 2026, marking the third consecutive year of the growing charity convoy that has firmly established itself on the Irish trucking calendar.

The event will begin at 4am from the Lidl Car Park in Edenderry, Co. Offaly, with participating trucks travelling approximately 215 kilometres to The Mart in Kanturk, Co. Cork. Following their arrival in Kanturk, drivers, families and supporters will gather at The Park Bar for food and the event’s widely supported monster raffle and auction.

Founded in 2024 by Paul Cocoman and Ryan Monaghan, the run was established with a clear focus on supporting mental health services, particularly those assisting men within the transport sector. Since its inception, the initiative has raised €53,000 for a range of charitable causes.

Beneficiaries to date have included SOSAD and Limerick Treaty Suicide Prevention, both of which have been supported since the first year of the event. Additional recipients have included Crohn’s & Colitis Ireland and the Cystic Fibrosis Unit at University Hospital Limerick. In 2025, donations were also made to the Tidy Towns committees in Edenderry and Kanturk in recognition of the voluntary work carried out in both communities.

The chosen charities for 2026 are SOSAD, Limerick Treaty Suicide Prevention, and Bumbleance – The Children’s Ambulance Service. Organisers have stated that while their continued support for suicide prevention services remains central to the run’s purpose, the inclusion of Bumbleance this year reflects the urgent funding challenges faced by the service, which reported having to decline hundreds of children’s transport journeys in the past year due to financial constraints.

The event is coordinated by a voluntary committee comprising Chairman Paul Cocoman, Vice Chairman Don “Cowboy” Curtin, Secretary and PR Officer John Dillon, Treasurers Linda O’Connor, Stephen Dillon and Jennifer Clegg, along with committee members Mary and “The Duck” O’Donovan, Emma Spollen, Eoin Tyrrell and “Boots” Corcoran.

While the run does not operate under a single headline sponsor, organisers have acknowledged the consistent generosity of businesses nationwide. Ward & Ward Transport contributed a top raffle prize of a week-long holiday in Spain for two last year, helping to generate significant funds. David Clegg Signs & Embroidery, Portlaoise, has also played a central role in supporting and promoting the event since its foundation.

More than 150 trucks took part in last year’s convoy, with large crowds gathering at bridges, flyovers and towns along the route. Organisers anticipate similar participation levels in 2026.

Reflecting on his first year’s involvement, Event Secretary John Dillon said: “Last year was my first year to be involved with the event but also to attend a trucking event. I was blown away by the trucking community. The run itself is an emotional sight to see, rumbling down the road with the sun rising behind its back, it is symbolic of a group driving from the darkness into light. To have so many like minded, caring, honest & decent people who all care enough for the one cause, to come together in one place and open their hearts and their wallets so generously is an absolutely beautiful thing. Something that I thought had died out and was lost to ‘old Ireland’. In this day and age of social isolation, the rat race, the beat the clock, the every man for himself mentality is all too easy to be overcome by, but one thing is for sure, you wont find it in Kanturk that weekend!”

Drivers wishing to take part can register and make a donation upon arrival at Kanturk Mart. Members of the public can support the initiative through its GoFundMe page (https://gofund.me/2ab57afdf), by purchasing official merchandise, or by taking part in the forthcoming raffle.

Those interested in getting involved, whether as drivers, volunteers or supporters, can contact the committee directly via the event’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556699408109. Route details and additional event information will be posted on the page in the coming weeks.

For further enquiries, contact John on 353 85 174 6983, Jen on 353 85 1298707, or Paul on 353 87 331 5399.

Organisers have also confirmed that this year’s finish in Kanturk will include family-friendly activities, with plans for bouncy castles, balloons and a mini digger challenge aimed at the “grown-up children” in attendance, ensuring the day offers something for all ages.

The motto of the run, “It’s OK Not To Be OK,” remains central to the event’s message. As it enters its third year, the Light Up The Night Truck Run continues to demonstrate the strength of solidarity within the Irish transport community. Beyond the impressive convoy and fundraising totals, the event stands as a reminder that support networks matter — and that within the trucking industry, there remains a strong willingness to look out for one another.

When engines start in Edenderry before dawn on April 4th, the convoy will once again make its journey south — not only to raise vital funds, but to reinforce a message that has resonated strongly since 2024: no one has to face their struggles alone.