226:
he had been "left in an untenable position due to the decisions made by the management committee". The appointment prompted a second resignation from the party a few days later, when Shauna Cusack became an independent councillor. On 4 May, * 4 May, the Social
Democratic and Labour Party announced it would make changes to the way it made "civil leadership" appointments following the resignations.
148:, but was forced to leave Kenya along with her son following threats to their safety because of her work with Maasai women. She first arrived in Northern Ireland as a refugee in 2010, after being invited to Derry by the Changaro Trust, which had helped to build schools in rural Kenya. The Changaro Trust subsequently helped Seenoi-Barr and her son to apply for
258:, said those purporting the abuse "do not speak for the wonderful and welcoming people of Derry and Strabane, and the work being done to build a better future for all". On 5 May, a man was arrested by police in Derry after making online threats to Seenoi-Barr following the announcement of her selection as mayor.
225:
However, Seenoi-Barr's appointment attracted criticism from some within her party, who felt the way the decision was made was undemocratic. Jason Barr, serving as deputy mayor of Derry and
Strabane at the time of Seenoi-Barr's appointment, resigned from the Social Democratic and Labour Party, saying
139:
stage four. She then went to a school in Narok, where her mother ran a supermarket, and after secondary school attended university, where she studied women's reproductive health and community development. She became a prominent campaigner for gender rights among
249:
that "The WEF (World
Economic Forum) is now installing invaders as mayors in Ireland just like in London". In response to this, and other online abuse, Seenoi-Barr said she was "aware" of it but "genuinely not interested", while
193:
On 29 April 2024, it was announced that Seemoi-Barr would become
Northern Ireland's first black mayor after the Social Democratic and Labour Party appointed her as Derry and Strabane's First Citizen, succeeding
168:
A member of the Social
Democratic and Labour Party, who previously served as chair of its Derry City and Strabane branch, Seenoi-Barr first stood for election to Derry City and Strabane District Council's
206:
Responding to the announcement, Seemoi-Barr said she was "proud to be a Maasai woman and a Derry girl. I cannot express how much the honour of serving as mayor of Derry and
Strabane means to me."
612:
266:
Seenoi-Barr has a son who was born in Kenya and came to
Northern Ireland with her. She met her husband after arriving in Northern Ireland. Her brother, Ledama Olekina, is a member of the
287:
715:
345:
710:
182:
174:
725:
211:
720:
291:
181:
onto the council following
Councillor Mary Durkan's decision to step down from her role as councillor. She retained her Foyleside seat at
153:
375:
314:
104:
482:
735:
638:
215:
170:
663:
152:. In 2012, she founded the North West Migrants Forum, and became its programme manager. She also helped to organise the
402:
255:
219:
108:
88:
705:
315:"'I'm proud to be a Derry girl' – former refugee Lilian Seenoi-Barr to become Northern Ireland's first black mayor"
112:
35:
587:
222:, described Seenoi-Barr's appointment as "a historic moment" and said she "will be an incredible mayor".
145:
185:, and in doing so became the first black person to be elected to public office in Northern Ireland.
730:
432:
198:'s Patricia Logue. She was installed as mayor at the Council's Annual General Meeting on 3 June.
700:
695:
234:
8:
613:"Who is Alex Jones? The conspiracy theorist who targeted Londonderry's first black mayor"
288:"Lilian SEENOI-BARR personal appointments – Find and update company information – GOV.UK"
251:
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136:
157:
560:
533:
507:
135:
with her five sisters and eight brothers, and attended the village school until
207:
149:
588:"NI's first black Mayor 'ready' for abuse amid Alex Jones conspiracy theories"
111:. On 29 April 2024, Seenoi-Barr made history after being selected as the next
689:
267:
141:
132:
116:
195:
403:"Former refugee elected as new mayor of Derry vows to defy death-threats"
483:"History made in NI as councillor to become country's first black Mayor"
376:"Lilian Seenoi-Barr set to become Northern Ireland's first Black mayor"
242:
238:
230:
178:
177:, but was not successful despite polling well. In June 2021, she was
534:"Lilian Seenoi-Barr: Racist abuse won't put new Derry mayor off job"
561:"SDLP to change selection process after Lilian Seenoi-Barr fallout"
103:(born October 1981) is a Kenyan-born politician and councillor for
246:
639:"Celebrations in Kenya as 'Masaai woman' set to become NI Mayor"
508:"Lillian Seenoi-Barr: Kenyan refugee is NI's first black mayor"
346:"Lilian Seenoi-Barr: From Kenya to mayor of Derry and Strabane"
229:
News of her appointment attracted online abuse from prominent
128:
77:
131:, Kenya, Seenoi-Barr was initially raised in the village of
664:"Man held over online threats to NI's first black mayor"
460:"Lilian Seenoi-Barr set to make history as Derry mayor"
632:
630:
433:"SDLP co-opt migrant rights activist to Derry council"
16:
Kenyan-born
Northern Irish politician and councillor
716:
Members of Derry City and
Strabane District Council
627:
687:
212:leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party
115:, and consequently as Northern Ireland's first
711:Social Democratic and Labour Party councillors
201:
188:
454:
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726:Women mayors of places in Northern Ireland
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113:First Citizen of Derry City and Strabane
105:Derry City and Strabane District Council
363:
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144:women, focusing on forced marriage and
688:
636:
585:
721:Women councillors in Northern Ireland
558:
312:
481:McLaughlin, Sophie (28 April 2024).
163:
13:
615:. Belfast Telegraph. 30 April 2024
256:First Minister of Northern Ireland
109:Social Democratic and Labour Party
89:Social Democratic and Labour Party
14:
747:
344:McGiney, Catherine (6 May 2024).
401:O'Connor, Siobhan (5 May 2024).
261:
48:3 June 2024 – June 2025
36:Mayor of Derry City and Strabane
656:
637:Deeney, Niall (30 April 2024).
605:
586:Deeney, Niall (29 April 2024).
579:
552:
526:
313:White, Nadine (30 April 2024).
75:October 1981 (age 42)
500:
474:
394:
306:
280:
1:
736:Politicians from Derry (city)
273:
270:representing the Narok area.
245:. Jones claimed in a post on
559:McGee, Elaine (4 May 2024).
290:. 5 May 2024. Archived from
7:
202:Reaction to her appointment
189:Mayor of Derry and Strabane
156:that took place in Derry's
154:Black Lives Matter protests
107:, where she represents the
10:
752:
470:– via www.bbc.co.uk.
443:– via www.bbc.co.uk.
146:female genital mutilation
94:
84:
71:
66:
62:
52:
41:
34:
30:
23:
706:People from Narok County
319:The Irish Independent
123:Early life and career
235:conspiracy theorists
216:Member of Parliament
514:. BBC. 3 June 2024
101:Lilian Seenoi-Barr
25:Lilian Seenoi-Barr
670:. RTÉ. 5 May 2024
540:. BBC. 5 May 2024
183:the 2023 election
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252:Michelle O'Neill
164:Political career
158:Guildhall Square
67:Personal details
55:
46:
21:
20:
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742:
741:
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731:Mayors of Derry
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462:. 29 April 2024
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382:. 29 April 2024
380:The Independent
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85:Political party
76:
53:
47:
42:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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350:The Irish News
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208:Colum Eastwood
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160:in June 2020.
150:refugee status
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96:
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58:Patricia Logue
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50:
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39:
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32:
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28:
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15:
9:
6:
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3:
2:
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734:
732:
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701:Living people
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435:. 8 June 2021
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294:on 5 May 2024
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268:Kenyan Senate
262:Personal life
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672:. Retrieved
667:
658:
646:. Retrieved
643:Belfast Live
642:
617:. Retrieved
607:
595:. Retrieved
592:Belfast Live
591:
581:
569:. Retrieved
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542:. Retrieved
537:
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516:. Retrieved
511:
502:
490:. Retrieved
487:Belfast Live
486:
476:
464:. Retrieved
437:. Retrieved
410:. Retrieved
407:Irish Mirror
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384:. Retrieved
379:
353:. Retrieved
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322:. Retrieved
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308:
296:. Retrieved
292:the original
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265:
233:figures and
228:
224:
205:
192:
167:
133:Ol Ombokishi
126:
100:
99:
43:
18:
696:1981 births
54:Preceded by
690:Categories
274:References
243:David Icke
239:Alex Jones
237:, such as
214:, and the
231:far-right
196:Sinn Féin
171:Foyleside
44:In office
668:RTÉ News
565:BBC News
538:BBC News
512:BBC News
179:co-opted
127:Born in
175:in 2019
137:primary
119:mayor.
80:, Kenya
518:4 June
254:, the
142:Maasai
674:6 May
648:6 May
619:5 May
597:6 May
571:4 May
567:. BBC
544:5 May
492:5 May
466:5 May
439:5 May
412:5 May
386:5 May
355:6 May
324:5 May
298:5 May
220:Foyle
173:ward
129:Narok
117:black
78:Narok
676:2024
650:2024
621:2024
599:2024
573:2024
546:2024
520:2024
494:2024
468:2024
441:2024
414:2024
388:2024
357:2024
326:2024
300:2024
241:and
218:for
72:Born
692::
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629:^
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563:.
536:.
510:.
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449:^
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365:^
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334:^
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210:,
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601:.
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247:X
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