She was selected on 18 June 2026 and is serving a 12-month term as mayor of the city. Helen Ogbu was selected through a pact between Labour, Independent, Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil councillors. she was elected to the Council by voters, the position of Mayor is chosen by fellow councillors, not directly by the public. Helen Ogbu became the 72nd person to hold the honour of First Citizen of Galway City.
Helen Ogbu appears to be her full name. Some sources also mention her full name as Helen Orji-Ogbu combining her maiden name Orji with married name Ogbu. She doesn’t seem to have expressed any controversial views and follows the Labour Party line.
Voters don’t choose the Mayor
With the exception of Limerick Mayors are not elected by the people, the electorate, but are selected by the counsellors in a cosy little arrangement from among themselves. So in Galway only councillors select the Mayor. The Mayor rotates among parties and independents in the pact for a term of just one year. The pact negotiated Helen Ogbu’s term as part of their agreement. They can elect whoever they agree.
A Mayors Main Functions
A Mayors Main Functions consist in presiding over plenary council meetings and representing the council locally, nationally, and internationally with ceremonial duties of attending events, receiving dignitaries and hosting receptions. However, the Mayor has no executive powers and does not make individual decisions on planning, housing, etc. While the Mayor receives her council salary and expenses she receives only a Mayoral allowance, not a set salary.
Based on the official Galway City Council documents the annual Mayoral allowance is €50,000, + expenses that can be many times that.
Early Life & Background
Helen Orji-Ogbu was born in Nigeria and arrived in Ireland in 2005/2006 as a refugee fleeing death threats due to her husband’s political involvement. Helen Ogbu’s husband, Nze Sunny Ogbu also known as Sunny Orji-Ogbu was assassinated in Nigeria in 2010 while running for Nigeria’s National Assembly, he was 45 years old. He was murdered in his pursuit for political change.
Education
She has a Master’s Degree in History & Diplomacy from Nigeria, Master’s in Family Support, currently a Doctoral Researcher at UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, University of Galway. She is the mother to daughter Chinonyerem Aisling ND foster carer to over 30 children from diverse cultures since 2008
Career & Community Work
Galway Refugee Support Group: Committee Member, later became Chair.
Integrating Ireland & Galway Intercultural Forum involvement
TCRAF-Eu (Transnational Child raising Arrangements between Africa and Europe): Surveyor and Researcher
Galway Volunteer Centre: Project Development/Organisation Support Officer for 16 years
Life Coach: Hosts “Ladies Hangout” virtual platform for women (set up during COVID-19)
Peace Commissioner: Appointed for Galway City and County by Minister of State James Browne in 2021
Igbo Progressive Union, Galway: Public Relations Officer and President
Political Career & Contributions
- Advocacy Work (before elected office):
- Direct Provision System: Campaigning for abolition
- Made presentations to Seanad on direct provision issues
- Signed petitions to Justice Minister
- Highlighted issues for children and women in her Master’s
- Immigrant Advocacy: Advocate for immigrants, especially children and women
- Mental Health: Mental health advocate, noted 40% of people experience mental health challenges, services critically underfunded (<6% of health budget)
- Local Election Success (2024):
- May 2024: First elected to Galway City Council for Labour Party, East ward
- First person of colour to serve on Galway City Council
- One of three Labour councillors elected to City Council
- General Election (2024):
- Contested Galway West General Election: 1,973 first preference votes
- Excluded after 8th count
- Galway West By-election (2026):
- January 2026: Selected as Labour Party candidate for by-election
- May 2026: 5,462 first preference votes (significant improvement)
- Third highest on first count, remained until penultimate count
- 11.4% of first preferences – better than anticipated
- If victorious, would be first woman of colour elected to Dáil Éireann
- Lost the by-election – Independent Ireland’s Noel Thomas topped with 20.9%
- Mayor of Galway (2026):
- June 2026: Selected as 72nd Mayor of Galway by City Council
- First African woman to hold the post for a 12-month term as Mayor
Political Vision & Priorities:
- Transport and traffic as central aim for Galway West
- Housing priority
- Cost of living concern
- Mental health reform: Labour would boost mental health funding to 10% and appoint new Government/HSE leads
- Collaborative approach to politics
- Left-leaning politics, supports Catherine Connolly’s presidential bid for equality and women’s rights
Challenges:
- She claims that she experienced extensive online abuse during political career, primarily due to skin color
- Family tragedy: Husband assassinated for political activism in Nigeria
Personal Quote:
“I will listen deeply, work tirelessly and deliver for the people of Galway West.”
Summary of Political Contribution:
Helen Ogbu has been a trailblazer who opened doors for other immigrants and women of colour in Irish politics. Her contribution includes:
- Direct provision abolition advocacy
- Immigrant rights advocacy
- Mental health awareness
- First person of colour elected to Galway City Council
- First African woman elected as Mayor of Galway
- Made Irish politics more accessible to immigrants
She is described as “a community builder, a proud immigrant, and even after losing an election her supporters say that “she has already made Ireland a better place”.