Ex-Larne woman’s tribute to 1929 Giro competitor

Morag Donaldson, who now lives in Dromore, is third generation Italian and can trace her roots back to central Italy.

Her grandfather, Giuseppe Bonugli, was a native of Gallicano in Tuscany, before he moved to Larne to open a cafe/grocery shop.

Amazingly, Giuseppe’s nephew, Giulio Bonugli, was a professional cyclist who raced in the 17th Giro d’Italia back in 1929.

He finished 45th place out of 99, with a time of two hours, 22 minutes and 40 seconds.

A street in Gallicano in the Garfagnana region of Tuscany, where the Bonugli family home is located, is named after Giulio.

And to commemorate Giulio’s participation in the event, Morag travelled to her cousin’s house in Ballygally to watch this year’s Giro.

She also erected a photograph and posters in the village in memory of Giulio, which read in Italian: “Hello from the Italians of Larne and Gallicano in Tuscany.”