Meet Monica Cullen del Bigio
The ‘godmother’ of the town twinning between Clonmel and Costa Masnaga
For over 40 years two towns from Ireland and Italy have shared a unique partnership. In opposing ends of their respective countries, Clonmel in the South of Ireland and Costa Masnaga at Italy’s northern border, have forged an enduring legacy through their town twinning.
This was spearheaded by the many Irish and Italian diaspora longing to build this connection. One such person was the late Monica Cullen Del Bigio, the ‘godmother’ of the town twinning.
To learn more about Monica, we sat down with her daughter Paola Del Bigio to learn more about her mother’s legacy and impact across both regions.
Meet Monica Cullen del Bigio
Born in Clonmel, Monica Cullen del Bigio, was an opera singer who later moved to Northern Italy, through work. Over the years of this twinning, she worked with passion to build strong, friendly relationships that paved the way for the official Twinning Agreement in 1986.
“The strong bonds of friendship forged between the towns and communities of Clonmel and Costa Masnaga and eventually between Country Tipperary and the province of Como since 1986 have been the brainchild of my mother, Monica Cullen Del Bigio.”
“She always believed that the important historical figure of Charles Bianconi, 'the man who put Ireland on wheels' deserved the fullest appreciation and recognition from both communities and at the same time this gave her the perfect opportunity to express her profound love for Ireland, Clonmel, and for the Lombardy area of Monza Brianza, her adopted life.”
Her tireless networking both at an institutional and personal level turned a shared history lesson inspired by the historic figure of Charles Bianconi into a real lasting bond that communities in both Ireland and Italy still celebrate decades later.
To witness the ongoing relationship and the strengthening of these bonds to this day, between the two communities after 40 years, would have been her pride and joy, as she truly believed in fostering mutual projects for future generations...
"...be it cultural, commercial or industrial in the true spirit of Charles Bianconi's enterprise. In this she has been a great pioneer herself and ahead of her times, back in 1986."
"Let's hope that the love affair between Clonmel, Country Tipperary and Italy will continue to grow and that it will lead to even more connections in the coming years.
This I am sure, would be the greatest contribution to honour her endeavours and precious legacy.”