Helen Ogbu’s election as Mayor of Galway comes just over two years after she was first elected to the City Council, as a Labour Party representative for the east ward.

The Nigerian-born politician has been living in Ireland for over 20 years, having fled her homeland amid fears for her safety, due to the involvement of her husband in the political sphere there.

She was one of three councillors elected for the party to the City Council, becoming the first person of colour to hold a seat on the local authority. Months later, she was selected to contest the last general election in Galway West.

Cllr Ogbu was the third highest placed candidate after the first count and remained in the race until the penultimate count.

The 53-year-old said after her victory: “The people of Galway are very welcoming and inclusive. This is the city of the Tribes, these people believed in me, they voted for me and those are the people who matter to me,” she said.

As she embarks on a twelve-month term as Mayor of her adopted city. The new first citizen of Galway says her time in office will be guided by three headings: Belonging; Young People and Community.