07-08-2025
Profile: Irish woman, 33, found dead in New York was a successful fashion designer
Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra, the 33-year-old who was found dead on a yacht in New York, left Ireland nine years ago and went on to become a very successful entrepreneur in the fashion world.
A loungewear and swimwear designer, she hailed from the edge of Carlow town, growing up in Monacurragh, Blackbog Road.
On Wednesday, she was found dead on a boat at Montauk Yacht Club on Long Island, New York. Police investigating her death said an autopsy conducted on her body "did not show evidence of violence".
The Suffolk County Police Department went on to say the "final cause of death is pending further examination".
As a child growing up in Monacurragh, Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra attended primary school in Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal. She became a popular performer with the school band under the guidance of Sr Anna Hyland.
She was a keen footballer and played with Éire Óg GAA club up to the age of 16.
A local woman who knew Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra when she was a young girl said: 'Martha was always smiling and a very personable person. She was a determined young girl even back then and so many people admired her.'
After attending St Leo's College Secondary School, Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra received a degree in commerce from UCD and an MA in digital marketing from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.
It is understood both she and her sister Jacqui moved with their mother Eleanor 'Elma' from Carlow to the Dublin/Wicklow border. Her mother Eleanor's family are a well-known and highly respected farming family.
Montauk harbour and marina. Picture:
Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra worked in Ireland until 2015 before emigrating to the United States. She set up her own brand, East x East, a luxury brand featuring sunglasses, swimwear and resort wear for men and women.
She was also director of operations at investment firm K4 Capital, and ran the fashion brand Duper. Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra kept in contact with her many Carlow-based friends, while a Bagenalsown-based family moved to the US, helping her set up her business in Montauk.
Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra lived in Manhattan's Upper East Side and had recently celebrated her brand's pop-up shop on the beach in Long Island's The Hamptons. She was due to visit her family in Ireland this week.
Tributes
Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra's business partner Dylan Grace, who is originally from Ireland and is based in Brooklyn, New York, paid tribute to the Carlow native.
In a post on Instagram alongside a photo of them both he said:
'We dreamed big together, laughed harder than anyone else could understand, and built so much from nothing.
"I'm truly blessed and grateful to have had you in my life. Love you so much Mar. Fly high girl.'
Former mayor of Carlow and Fine Gael councillor Fergal Browne said his thoughts and prayers were with Ms Nolan O'Slatarra's family and extended relatives.
'My sympathies are with the entire family. The death of a young woman with her life cut short and who did have years ahead of her makes this so heartbreaking.
'Martha is from a long-established and highly respected farming family. It is so devastating for them all.'
A police investigation into her death is being carried out by Suffolk County detectives.
A statement said: 'East Hampton Town Police responded to a 911 call from a man reporting a woman unconscious on a boat docked at the Montauk Yacht Club, on Star Island Road, at approximately 12am. Good Samaritans attempted to perform CPR on the woman.'
The Department of Foreign Affairs has said it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance.
'As in all cases, the department does not comment on individual cases,' a spokesperson said.
