The octagon-shaped chamber of Laois County Council had never seen anything like it before.
It was standing-room only a full half an hour before the start of the annual general meeting of Portlaoise Town Council.
It is not an event at which one would normally expect the Nigerian charge d'affaires Benedict Amobi.
Also there were dozens of his fellow countrymen, representatives of the US, Indian and South African embassies and a kaleidoscope of wellwishers of all colours and creeds.
The outgoing mayor of the town, Sinn Féin's Cllr Brian Stanley, outlined the achievements of the last year including the significant upgrading of O'Moore Place and a new footpath and public lighting for the Borris Road.
The parochial quickly gave way to the universal as the meeting considered the second item of business - the election of a new mayor.
Fine Gael's longest-serving councillor William Aird seconded a proposal to elect Cllr Rotimi Adebari - proof, he said, that Ireland was one of the best democracies "throughout the whole world".
Mr Aird drew laughter as he recalled how he used to struggle to pronounce Mr Adebari's name. "I said to him, 'do you mind if I call you Tommy'."
A roll-call of councillors was read out by the acting town clerk Ciara Farrell and by a margin of six to three Mr Adebari was elected Ireland's first black mayor. A spontaneous round of applause rang around the chamber, giving way to a standing ovation.
"This is the day that the Lord has made. We should be glad of it," Mr Adebari said after accepting the chain of office. "Amen," came one response.
"I say this to my fellow immigrants, 'the sky's the limit'. Ireland is not just the country of a thousand welcomes, but a country of equal opportunity," Mr Adebari said.
"Ireland has changed and will never be the same again, but I say this is a good thing."
Watching in the gallery was his wife Ronke and the couple's four children, ranging in ages from 15 to one.
An asylum seeker who came to Ireland in 2000, Mr Adebari mused that while he was now Portlaoise's first citizen, he was not yet an Irish citizen.
"Are you telling us you're not legal," Mr Aird interrupted, at which the whole public gallery erupted in laughter.
The three Fianna Fáil members apologised to Mr Adebari for opposing him but, they said, having opposed all previous incumbents since 2004, they were not going to make an exception for him.
"As we say in the GAA, a walkover is never a win," Cllr Jack Nolan told him. "You seem to radiate happiness and joy. I'd love to know what you're on. We need a bottle of it over here."
Mr Adebari said "embracing diversity" would be the theme of his term of office. As well as attracting new business, a new website showcasing Portlaoise and a mayoral ball, he said he wanted Portlaoise to be known as something other than a commuter town.
He may already have achieved that.