Irish-Italian town twinning: From Clonmel to Costa Masnaga
Ireland and Italy share 17 town twinnings, each built on years of cultural exchanges, shared memories, and historical connections. Behind every partnership lies a unique story that unites communities.
One of the most significant is the connection between Clonmel and Italian town of Costa Masnaga, tied by the remarkable contributions of Carlo Bianconi.
In 2026, the two towns will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their official town twinning. The anniversary is being marked through cultural activities dedicated to the history of the twinning and to Carlo Bianconi.
To learn more about these twinned towns, we spoke to Mayor of Costa Masnaga, Sabina Panzeri, Councillor Andrea Molteni, and Aidan Fennessey and Jacinta Gavigan from the Clonmel Bianconi Twinning, who shared the history and stories of this longstanding connection.
Carlo Bianconi
Carlo Bianconi is remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of transport in Ireland and as a symbol of the strong connection between Italy and Ireland.
Born in Tregolo, near Costa Masnaga, in 1786, Bianconi left his homeland at only 15 years of age in order to escape the Napoleonic military draft.
He first travelled to England and later settled in Ireland, where he would eventually build a remarkable life and career that changed the history of Irish transport forever.
Bianconi found a welcoming home in the town of Clonmel. It was there that he developed the idea that would revolutionise transportation in Ireland: a system of horse-drawn carriages capable of transporting both people and goods between Irish towns and cities.
From what began as a small local initiative, Bianconi gradually created a vast network that connected the main Irish cities through more than 100 stations and thousands of miles travelled every day.
His transport system later allowed him to launch the first postal service on the island. His work laid the foundations for the modern transport networks that would later develop across Ireland.
Bianconi’s legacy remains particularly strong in Clonmel, where his contribution to the town and to Ireland is still remembered with pride. A statue dedicated to him stands in the town as a symbol of gratitude.
40 years of town twinning
Over the past 40 years, the two towns have had many exchanges and visits, including the twinning of their respective Camera Clubs, libraries, marching bands, and choirs. For many years, students from Costa Masnaga would visit Clonmel over the summer months as part of an exchange programme.
Meet Monica Cullen del Bigio
The ‘godmother’ of the town twinning between Clonmel (Co. Tipperary) and Costa Masnaga (Province of Lecco), who worked with passion to build strong, friendly relationships that paved the way for the official Twinning Agreement in 1986.
Recent visits and celebrations have further strengthened the relationship between the two towns. Delegations from Costa Masnaga travelled to Clonmel to take part in their Saint Patrick’s Day parade, which was dedicated to Bianconi. Similarly, a delegation from Clonmel travelled to Costa Masnaga in June for the official celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the town twinning.
New projects involving schools and sports organisations were developed to continue building friendship and cooperation between the two communities. Local schools in Costa Masnaga had dedicated lessons on the history of the town twinnings and designed posters for this year’s celebrations. Additionally, friendly matches are being organised between the two towns’ Basketball teams.
Today, Carlo Bianconi remains a symbol of friendship between Ireland and Italy, linking Costa Masnaga and Clonmel through this celebrated history.