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 here 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.
Cllr Ogbu sought asylum here and spent a number of years living in direct provision accommodation in Salthill with her daughter.
Her concerns for her husband were tragically realised when Nze Sunny Ogbu was assassinated in Nigeria in 2010.
As she rebuilt her life in the aftermath of his death, Ms Ogbu got involved with a number of organisations in Galway, working in community development and family support roles, while also fostering children and assisting volunteering groups.
Galway Mayor Helen Ogbu and Deputy Mayor Josie Forde
She was approached by Labour, prior to the 2024 local elections and 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.
She garnered 1,973 first preference votes on that occasion and was excluded after the eighth count.
Last month she contested the bye-election in the constituency, significantly building on her previous performance with 5,462 first preferences.
Cllr Ogbu was the third highest placed candidate after the first count and remained in the race until the penultimate count.
Helen Ogbu meeting Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the Galway West bye-election count in May
She is well liked and well regarded by her colleagues on the City Council but has experienced extensive online abuse during her political career, primarily due to the colour of her skin.
Labour Party campaigners had to deploy specific software during the bye-election campaign in an effort to weed out a tirade of anti-immigrant and racist posts on social media, in relation to Ms Ogbu and her candidacy.
The 53-year-old contrasted the comments and ideologies of those posting material online, with the generally warm and welcoming reception she received from voters in person, during the lead up to polling day.
“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.
She added: “Online, they could be real people, they could be bots, but they are not the people I am supporting, that I represent, the people who give me the energy and the drive to do what I am doing.
“I know the stuff I’m made of. I know I’m out there to work for the people, to hear their concerns and have that ‘listening ear’ to address the issues they have”.
Councillor Ogbu represents the east ward on Galway City Council
Cllr Ogbu was the best placed, left-leaning candidate in the bye-election and Labour is hopeful she will be in a position to recapture a seat for the party in Galway West come the next General Election.
In the meantime, she embarks on a twelve-month term as Mayor of her adopted city.
Her election this afternoon results from a pact involving Labour, Independent, Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil councillors.
The new first citizen of Galway says her term of office will be guided by three headings: Belonging; Young People and Community.
‘Stronger connections between people’
In her acceptance speech this afternoon, Mayor Ogbu said she had arrived in Galway with “hopes, dreams and a determination to contribute”.
She wants anyone who makes a home in Galway to feel valued and welcomed.
Helen Ogbu with former president Michael D Higgins on Galway West bye-election polling day
The Mayor hopes to involve young people in civic life so they can help shape the future of their city and says the importance of community will be central to her term in office.
“Everything I have achieved has been made possible because of community…. At a time when many people experience loneliness, uncertainty, and isolation, we must invest in building stronger connections between people,” she stated.
The new mayor also paid tribute to her late mother and late husband, saying their presence remained with her every day.
She concluded by calling on the city’s citizens to continue to “show Ireland and the world what is possible when community, compassion, and courage come together”.