First Black Irish Mayor elected

Ireland has elected the first Black Mayor, a recent asylum seeker has made history.
Councillor Rotimi Adebari originally from Nigeria was elected the Mayor of Portlaoise Town Council this afternoon by a vote of six to three and with the support of Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and Independent members of the council.
A success story in the new Ireland of multi culture, Mayor Adebari came to Ireland only seven years ago to seek asylum. The father of four fled Nigeria with his wife and two children in 2000.
At a meeting attended by officials from the Nigerian, South African and the United States embassies, Mayor Adebari said his election was proof that Ireland is not just a country of a thousand welcomes but it is a country of equal opportunity.
Councillor Adebari said Portlaoise is a town that looks beyond colour, creed and religion, but he said integration is a two-way process and involving or engaging members of the ethnic communities in local activities is the way to go.
The election was attended by a crowd of over 100 people drawn from the Nigerian community all over Ireland.
Elected as a councillor in 2004, Mr Adebari has a Masters degree in Intercultural Studies from Dublin City University and works with the local authority in Co Laois co-ordinating an integration projects for immigrants.

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First Black Irish Mayor elected