Chef hopes to become first person of colour elected to City Hall

A city chef hopes to become the first Muslim and first person of colour to be elected to City Hall.

Asraf Chowdhury, an Irish citizen originally from Bangladesh, was voted in as secretary at the AGM of the Knocknacarra branch of Fine Gael – and has set his sights on becoming a Galway City councillor.

Mr Chowdhury lives in Knocknacarra with his wife, who works in Citizen Information in Galway, and two Irish-born children, a daughter (11) and son (6).

He moved to Ireland almost 20 years ago and studied hospitality at Galway Mayo Institute of Technology.

A sous chef for the past three years at McHugh’s on Tuam Road, he has worked in various city hotels including Jury’s Inn, the g Hotel, Connacht Hotel and Harbour Hotel.

The 45-years-old studied politics back home in Chiddagong, Bangladesh. He told the Galway City Tribune that he wanted to get involved in local politics for the benefit of his children, who were born here; for the Knocknacarra community; and for the estimated 600-800 members of the Bangladeshi community living in the city.

Fine Gael councillor Clodagh Higgins canvassed Mr Chowdhury during her first foray into electoral politics in the 2019 Local Elections.

After a lengthy discussion on his doorstep, Cllr Higgins “encouraged me to get involved in local politics”, he said.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.