Lilian Seenoi Barr is new Mayor of Derry City & Strabane District.
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01:20 >> And to the fact that you're now officially wearing that chain here at the Guildhall.
01:29 >> Absolutely delighted to be now the mayor of Derry City and Strabane District.
01:34 I'm looking forward to connecting with people across the city and
01:38 serving the community that I love so well.
01:42 >> You have a very large family here today.
01:44 How does it feel to have them coming from Kenya?
01:46 >> I am so humbled.
01:48 My family is very, very proud for Derry, but
01:51 also very proud of what I have achieved here.
01:54 And I'm really, really humbled that they traveled all the way from Kenya to come and
01:58 witness Derry making history tonight.
02:01 >> How does it feel to have them all here?
02:02 You didn't see, but whenever you're in the hall,
02:04 there was a standing ovation for you as well.
02:07 What does it feel like to have that support and that here for you tonight?
02:11 >> It's so humbling and really touching to see after everything that I have been
02:16 going through the last four weeks, to just see the support from people
02:21 across Northern Ireland, across Kenya, and
02:24 certainly here in Derry City and Strabane District is amazing, incredible.
02:29 >> You touched there a wee bit on the difficulties that you've had over the last
02:32 four weeks.
02:33 How have you been able to get through that to get to here today?
02:36 And I suppose, how does it feel to get to the finish line?
02:38 >> The support you have seen, the hall is completely full of well wishes,
02:42 people who wants to see progress happening in Northern Ireland,
02:45 people who wants to see an inclusive society, and
02:48 people who wants to see representation of minoritized communities.
02:52 And as I said there, I am going to be a mayor for everybody.
02:56 I want to make sure no one is left behind regardless of the color of their skin,
03:00 regardless of their disability, of their sexual orientation.
03:03 And everyone in this city and district can see themselves in me.
03:09 >> You have made history tonight, has that sunk in yet, do you think?
03:12 >> No, no, not yet.
03:13 I'm sure it will be in the next few weeks or months.
03:17 But really, I think Derry has made history.
03:21 And Derry has that reputation of making history all the time.
03:24 I'm just so delighted that again, Derry is shining across the world for
03:29 being a much progressive city, a welcoming city that really embraces difference.
03:35 As I say, like John Hume said, it is an accident of bad, and
03:39 Derry day in day out proves that.
03:42 >> And Lillian, your ruler, I met your ruler,
03:48 that is the senator who said that maybe someday you could be the first minister.
03:54 How high are your sights?
03:56 >> I wanna focus on being the first citizen of Derry and Strabane.
04:01 It's a huge honor, it's a very important job.
04:04 And I promise everybody I will go to every corner of this city and
04:09 district to represent the people.
04:10 That's my focus at the moment.
04:13 As I say, dreams are valid.
04:15 And anyone who wants to do whatever they feel that they can do,
04:18 whether it is getting into politics, whether it is becoming a first minister or
04:22 becoming a president or a prime minister, you can do it.
04:26 >> Thank you so much, Lillian.
04:27 Thank you so much for your words.
04:28 >> If you were to speak to the people of Derry, just look directly at the camera and
04:31 give them a message, what would you say?
04:33 >> I wanna say thank you so much for all your support.
04:36 Thank you for choosing me to be one of you.
04:39 Thank you for giving me a home.
04:40 Thank you for giving me a family.
04:42 And all I want to do is deliver for you and also represent you.
04:47 Thank you for that chance.
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04:57 >> Next year everyone.
04:59 Our new mayor, Lillian Barr.
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05:19 >> Hip hip.
05:20 >> Hooray.
05:21 >> Hip hip.
05:22 >> Hooray.
05:23 >> Hip hip.
05:24 >> Hooray.
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05:26 >> A pride moment.
05:27 Thank you so much, everybody.
05:29 >> It's a fantastic night for the people of Derry, a fantastic night for the STLP.
05:33 We now have a history making mayor in Lillian Barr,
05:36 the first ever black mayor in the whole of Northern Ireland in all of our history.
05:40 Somebody who came as a refugee from Kenya 14 years ago, made a life here,
05:45 built a family here, and worked on behalf of the community here is now our first citizen.
05:50 The city of civil rights couldn't be prouder today.