SDLP Councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr has been selected to serve as the next Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council.
A native of Kenya, Councillor Barr came to Derry as a refugee and became a community activist who gives a voice to marginalised communities. She has been a councillor since her co-option in 2021 and retained her seat in the 2023 elections.
Speaking ahead of her appointment as Mayor in June, she said she is 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. The people of this city have taken me into their hearts and everywhere I go I never fail to be amazed at the warmth, kindness and generosity of the people who live here. Having initially come to Derry as a refugee facing an uncertain future, I can now truly say that my family have found their home.
“The significance of my appointment as Mayor is not lost on me, and I will work for every single person in this city regardless of their religion, ethnicity or background. These are the values I have carried with me since getting involved in politics and are reflected in the ethos of my party.
“I’m looking forward to working with my party, my SDLP council colleagues and everyone on the council in my upcoming year as Mayor. I’m incredibly excited to get started and to get out meeting people and visiting the many fantastic organisations throughout our city. I will use this year to celebrate our successes and shine a spotlight on the issues impacting far too many families here. I hope that I will also be able to inspire others and show what’s possible in a great city like ours.”
