Lilian Seenoi Barr
On June 03 2024, the SDLP’s Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr was elected the new Mayor to represent the City and District for the incoming 2024-25 when she accepted the Mayoral chain from her predecessor Sinn Fein’s Cllr Patricia Logue at the Council’s Annual meeting in the Guildhall.
The new Mayor, who will be supported in her role by the Ulster Unionist Deputy Mayor Alderman Darren Guy, who takes up the position of Deputy Mayor, said she was deeply honoured to represent the city and district and vowed to “lead with ambition to drive real change, ensuring that all voices within our vibrant community are heard and represented.”
She said she was committed to work tirelessly for everyone and would focus her Mayoral year on “unity, growth and the common good” pledging to work to end “poverty, attract investment and support young people to achieve their full potential, create jobs ad advocate for quality affordable housing” whilst also helping to end the long waiting lists for housing, deliver play parks for children and focus on addressing environmental issues.
Newly elected Mayor Barr said she was deeply honoured at being chosen as Mayor and spoke about her journey to becoming First Citizen and of her love and pride of her Maasai heritage, its rich culture and heritage and its strong values around justice and freedom, which she intends to incorporate in everything that she does during her Mayoral term.
The Foyleside DEA based elected representative said she is committed to working hard for the entire community and being a Mayor for everyone - “one who is accessible and one who will lead with hope.” She said the green and orange politics were in the past and replaced with a new united community.
Extending a special thanks to her family for all their help and support, Mayor Barr acknowledged the supportive role of her husband and son and wider family circle. She added that a special focus will be placed on raising awareness and funds for her chosen Mayoral charity - BUDS Club, a full-time youth-led educational and developmental youth provision service for young people with disabilities aged between 11 and 25 years of age, that serves young people across the Council area.
She said one of the initiatives she is keen to pursue during her Mayoral year is the setting up of a Mayoral Youth Network designed to inspire young people to assume leadership positions and prioritise their mental health.
