💬 ‘I came to Ireland 20 years ago to work in a bar – I’d never have thought I’d end up in this position’. The new deputy mayor of #Limerick, @azadtalukder_ff who hails from Bangladesh originally. Huge endorsement of his candidacy with 31 of 39 votes secured. #LimerickMayor pic.twitter.com/RyFdJz891N

— Nick Rabbitts (@Nick468official) June 30, 2020

Fianna Fáil’s Abul Kalam Azad Talukder.

Limerick’s first Muslim Councillor becomes its new deputy mayor.

Known locally as ‘Jackie’…

…Talukder, who hails from Bangladesh, first had his interest piqued by politics when he met former Fianna Fáil junior minister Peter Power in 2004. At the time, he transitioned from working in a bar to managing a restaurant, while also working as a taxi driver.

“In my nearly 20 years here, I have never been without a job, not even for a week,” he says. After years of involvement with the local Fianna Fáil group, he finally decided to take the plunge and run for election himself.

He said he has encountered xenophobia and racism but that the vast majority of locals have welcomed him. “Most people say, ‘we like change, we like new voices, we like new ideas’ and maybe one or two people say they don’t want an outsider.”

From the Irish Times on Mr Talkuder’s election to Limerick council last year.

Fianna Fáil Councillor Michael Collins named Mayor of Limerick (RTÉ)