Profile of Martha Nolan O’Slatarra, the Carlow woman who was found dead on a yacht on Long Island

THIRTY-three-year-old Martha Nolan O’ Slatarra was originally from the Monacurra area of Carlow town.

The fashion lounge/swimwear designer and businesswoman left Ireland nine years ago becoming very successful in the fashion business.

As a child growing up in Monacurragh, Blackbog Road close to Carlow town, Martha attended primary school in Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal. She became a popular performer with the school band under the guidance of Sr Anna Hyland.

When younger she was a keen footballer and played with Éire Óg GAA Football Club up to the age of 16.

A local woman who would have known her when she was a young girl explained that “Martha was always smiling and a very personable person. She was a determined young girl even back then and so many people admired her.” Following her education in St Leo’s College Secondary School, Martha achieved a commerce degree from UCD and a MA in digital marketing also from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.

It is understood that 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. Martha’s grandfather Liam Nolan is still alive and she has two uncles Barry and John and aunt Jacqui.

The young entrepreneur worked in Ireland until 2015 before emigrating to the United States. She set up her own brand, East x East, a luxury brand wear for sunglasses, swimwear and resort wear for men and women.

She was also Director of Operations at investment firm K4 Capital and ran Duper - a fashion brand. Martha kept in contact with her many Carlow based friends, while a Bagenalstown based family, who moved to the US helped her set up her business in Montauk.

Her mother Eleanor’s family are a well-known and highly respected farming family. Martha’s grandfather Liam Nolan is still alive and she has two uncles Barry John and aunt Jacqui It is understood that Martha’s mother and her aunt Jacqui are making their way to New York.

Councillor Fergal Browne said his thoughts and prayers are 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.” Martha’s mother, who is a teacher, has been reported as saying to the Irish Independent that she was “numb and in shock” after hearing her daughter was dead.

She added: “I don’t know what happened to my daughter. My younger daughter, Jacqui, arrived in on Tuesday night and she was crying and shaking. She said, ‘I have terrible news, Martha’s dead I don’t know what happened. We weren’t told anything about the circumstances.” The young woman was due to visit her family in Ireland this week.

Dylan Grace, originally from Ireland and was a business partner of Ms Nolan O’Slatarra based in Brooklyn, New York, paid tribute to Ms Nolan O’Slatarra.

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.” Martha lived in Manhattan's upper east side and had recently celebrated her brand's pop-up shop on the beach in Long Island's Hamptons.

The Carlow woman has been found dead on board a boat which was docked at a yacht club on Long Island in New York.

A man found Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra, unconscious on the boat at Montauk Yacht Club, at 12am local time on Tuesday and shouted for help. It is believed that two men on a nearby boat performed CPR on the Carlow woman.

The business woman was later pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services.

A post-mortem examination has been carried out on her body by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office which showed there were no visible signs of injury. Authorities said the post mortem results were inconclusive and are awaiting further test results to decide the direction of their investigation.

A police investigation into her death is being carried out by Suffolk County police detectives.

A police 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