A Nigerian candidate in the local elections in Galway says she is more determined than ever to contest the June elections after receiving racist hate mail.
Part-time model and single mother of three, Ms Tokie Laotan, said the racist mail would not deter her from campaigning for a more "tolerant, equitable and just society".
"I'm more determined than ever that our city council should reflect the intercultural make-up of our city," she said.
Ms Laotan, a Nigerian national who intends to run for election in the north-east ward of Galway city, said the short handwritten letter had a Dublin postmark.
It stated: "You foreign bastards and harlots should 'f..k off' back to your own countries. We did not fight for independence to submit to another foreign invasion and a race relations industry that costs a fortune."
Ms Laotan has been living in Galway for the past two years where she has been involved with the Galway City Community Forum and the Action for Equality group.
She is contesting the forthcoming elections as an independent candidate representing marginalised groups, such as women, travellers, immigrants, the disabled and older people.
Chairperson for Action for Equality Galway, Mr Charlie Currie, called on the people of Galway to exercise their votes to send a clear message that the intimidation of candidates would not be tolerated.
"We must ensure that we have an anti-racism policy for Galway city to combat all forms of racism.
"It seems more and more likely to me that an effective anti-racism strategy would include specific recommendations to deal with effective enforcement and compliance," he said.
Co-ordinator of the Galway Peoples' Resource Centre, Ms Elaine Harvey, warned that if Galway became known as a city that did not tackle racism properly, it could lose out on vital investment to other cities.
Galway City Partnership, in conjunction with a number of local organisations, is currently developing an anti-racism strategy for the period 2004 to 2006.
The hope is that it will reduce the frequency and intensity of racist incidents, foster anti-racist codes of practice locally in the public, private and community sectors and raise general awareness in the city around issues of race and cultural diversity.