Portlaoise Town Council: He may have been a long way from his birthplace but Mr Rotimi Adebari looked perfectly at home.
"The Laois people have made history," he said, as the result of the third count for Portlaoise Town Council showed he had exceeded the quota.
"I feel great and I feel relieved. It's been a very long day," the economics graduate from south-western Nigeria said. "It's one thing to read history; it's another thing to make history."
Mr Adebari (40), is a self-employed training consultant. on inter-cultural and anti-racism issues. He has lived in Ireland for the past four years and looks forward to taking out Irish citizenship.
He ran as an independent and expects to remain so for the time being: "I am happy to be non-party for now."
He admits finding the door-to-door canvassing "very tedious" but says it was an "interesting experience at the same time".
Mr Adebari did not take a public stance on the citizenship referendum and believes it should have been a "stand-alone" vote.
The main issues in his campaign were better services for the elderly and young people as well as social inclusion, particularly the provision of education for minority groups.
A glossy campaign leaflet features a picture of a black-and-white handshake under the heading, "The reality of our future".
A graduate of Benin University in his country of birth he is currently undertaking a Masters in Intercultural Studies at Dublin City University.
He is married with three children and is involved in about half-a-dozen different community groups: "We are all happy here. We have adopted this country as our home," he said.
Gordon Deegan adds:
A 43-year old former asylum-seeker secured the seventh seat on the nine-seat Ennis Town Council late on Saturday. Nigerian, Dr Taiwoo Matthew, who got 564 first preferences said voters "had written the name of Ennis in gold in the book of history. By electing me, the Ennis people have looked beyond the colour of my skin and accepted me on my individual merits". During his campaign, Dr Matthew got over 400 asylum-seekers and refugees added to the register.
Dr Matthew was supported by former Labour Party deputy Dr Moosajee Bhamjee at the count in Ennis.
