There was hardly a dry eye among councillors in the chamber after Mayor Helen Ogbu was finished with them.
The acceptance speech of the first migrant to become Galway city’s first citizen was universally lauded as one of the best ever heard in City Hall, as the Labour Party’s sixth mayor in 55 years told her story of a young widow arriving to this regional capital seeking asylum, never imagining she would one day become its representative.
The city’s second-ever, all-female top table was also unanimously approved by councillors. Mayor Ogbu – Galway’s tenth Lady Mayor in 541 years – was elected alongside the new deputy mayor, Councillor Josie Forde (FF ). With respective roots in Africa and Bohermore, the two women together represent ‘new’ and ‘old’ Galway.
Sixteen of the city’s 18 independent and party councillors were present, and there was unambiguous, universal and collegial praise for Helen Ogbu facing down torrents of racist, online abuse before, during and since May’s Galway West by-election, won by Deputy Seán Kyne (FG ), who was quietly present in solidarity at City Hall last Friday .
Veteran councillors Declan McDonnell (Ind ) and Terry O’Flaherty (Ind ), with 62 years municipal service between them, remarked they had never seen so many spectators at a mayoral inauguration, while photographers and cameramen jostled for ‘the shot’ of Councillor Ogbu receiving her chain of office from outgoing, third term mayor, Councillor Mike Cubbard (Ind ).
There were whoops from attendees as Cubbard gently placed the gold, civic regalia over the shoulders of the first black person to hold this office. All present chatted afterward on the frisson of experiencing first-hand this significant moment in this city’s storied history. Wags in the press gallery remarked that Nigerian-born Ogbu’s life story had blockbuster movie elements, prompting opinionated discussion as to which Hollywood actors might portray her, and – more factiously – play Galway’s plucky, local reporters.
Standing room only
At least 200 people were crammed into the seat of local government on College Road. Many were forced to stand outside on a sunny afternoon as children of friends, family and supporters of Cubbard, Ogbu, Forde and outgoing deputy mayor, Councillor Alan Cheevers (FF ), scrambled on the old Crimean canons outside City Hall, symbolically pointed toward Dublin.
The 72nd Mayor of the City of Galway was formerly nominated by Labour councillors John McDonagh and Níall McNelis, who praised Ogbu’s “resilience of human spirit, empathy and solidarity” after the assassination of her late husband, Sunny Ogbu, thence raising their daughter Chiazokam ‘Chichi’ Ogbu, along with more than 30 foster children. McNelis explained she first set-up a residents’ association and creche in Salthill’s Direct Provision centre, then volunteered with Cope and Simon, before landing a job in the Galway Volunteer Centre.
“Galway is modern and diverse, and our mayor should reflect that,” said McNelis. “No matter where you come from, loving this city is the most important qualification,” he said, to sustained applause.
“When I arrived here twenty-one years ago, I came seeking a better future for myself and my family,” said Ogbu in a short, powerful oration. “Like so many others who have made Galway their home, I arrived with hopes, dreams, and a determination to contribute. I could never have imagined then, that one day, I would stand before you, as mayor of this remarkable city.”
Councillor Ogbu said the theme of her mayoralty would be participation, and she intends re-establishing a civic, citizens assembly to present ideas and consider evidence informing future decisions and policies for the city.
Addressing Ogbu directly, Councillor Cubbard said her speech would resonate across the City of Tribes, and “that the message is clear, the online abuse – which you experienced more than most – did not win. The trolls did not win. You did,” he said.
Councillor Cheevers said Ogbu’s election was an important moment for Galway: “People living here who look like Helen now see themselves represented in public life. Hateful comments have no place in our city, or Irish society. Today we say ‘No’ to racism, hatred, prejudice and discrimination in all its forms.”
Councillor Clodagh Higgins (FG ) said Ogbu’s mandate was unquestionable, with a unanimous election by councillors, underpinned by 12,960 votes totalled in the recent Galway West by-election. “Nobody who puts themselves forward should experience the abuse you have,” she said. Her colleague, Councillor Frank Fahy, called on national politicians present to tackle Meta and other platforms which publish online abuse, seemingly without consequence.
Councillor Michael Crowe (FF ) referenced Michael D Higgins as a former Labour mayor turned president, and remarked that when Ogbu arrived in Galway 20 years ago, the city council was electing Labour’s first female mayor – Catherine Connolly – who then probably never imagined she might one day become president, just as Ogbu said she never imagined becoming mayor.
Speaking after the inauguration, Labour leader Ivana Bacik TD thanked Councillor Crowe “for planting the seed in my head of Helen Ogbu following in the political footsteps of Michael D Higgins and President Catherine Connolly. Galway has made history by electing its first black mayor of the city, and Helen’s political path ahead seems quite clear,” she told the Advertiser.
VIPs
Deputies Bacik and Kyne, and Fianna Fail’s John Connolly TD, Senator Olly Crowe and county councillor Mary Hoade attended the inauguration, accompanied by former minister and Galway West TD, Éamon Ó Cuív, and former city mayor Val Hanley.
There was a strong presence of Labour Party members past and present, including the party’s general secretary Billie Sparks, west of Ireland organiser Aaron Burke, Galway president Peter Kenny, Galway West chair, former mayor Tom Costello, and retired city councillor Billy Cameron.
Former Labour mayor and president of Ireland, Michael D Higgins was unable to attend, as he was being awarded an honorary doctorate from ATU in Letterfrack, but his wife Sabina Coyne Higgins and son Daniel Higgins were present.
Family and friends of councillors Ogbu and Forde came from across Ireland and Britain to witness the city’s mayoral and vice mayoral appointments, with international visitors from Chicago, Paris, Germany, Canada and Nigeria. The two councillors held separate receptions afterward in Mervue’s Radisson Red Hotel, and Hole In The Wall on Eyre Street.
Funded by the Local Democracy reporting scheme.
