Ireland

Killing of Sarah McNally ‘stopped us in our tracks’, funeral of Longford woman stabbed in New York told

Funeral service took place at St Mel’s Cathedral for bartender remembered as a ‘vivacious young woman who loved life’

The remains of Sarah McNally are carried into St Mel's Cathedral, Longford, on Monday morning. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins
The remains of Sarah McNally are carried into St Mel's Cathedral, Longford, on Monday morning. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins
Jessica Thompson
Mon Apr 08 2024 - 14:51

Sarah McNally was “larger than life” and “a unique force to be reckoned with”, according to her best friend Áine Wade, who addressed the Longford native’s funeral congregation on Monday morning.

Thin Lizzy’s song Sarah echoed around St Mel’s Cathedral as those who gathered to mourn the loss of their family member, friend or former colleague awaited the arrival of the funeral cortege.

Sarah, a 41-year-old Longford native, died after a stabbing incident at the bar in which she worked in New York, on Saturday, March 30th. Her boyfriend Marcin Pieciak has been charged with her murder.

Sarah had lived in New York for more than 10 years and worked as a bartender at The Céilí House in Queens.

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“Sarah’s death has stopped us in our tracks. It has caused darkness to descend, especially on her family: her mother Dorrie, father Des, her grandmother Kathleen, and her aunts, uncles, relatives and extended family, and the wide circle of friends she has, both here and the far side of the Atlantic,” said Fr Michael McGrath.

As we were welcoming the hope of Easter, he said, “the sirens on the street of New York signalled something unwelcome and sinister”.

Sarah McNally. Photograph: rip.ie
Sarah McNally. Photograph: rip.ie

He recalled Sarah’s baptism and the “light” she brought to her family in December 1982.

“Those who knew Sarah best remember a vivacious young woman who loved life, her cars - her loud, souped up cars,” he said.

“Former colleagues remember her as the one who could have invented online shopping before it became the ‘in’ thing.

“But the stricter confines of a nine to five office job in the civil service was never going to be enough to offer excitement for her. It was only a matter of time before she spread her wings and headed international.”

Sarah’s nature was “adventurous and generous”, he added, with “laughter and a sense of fun”.

Sarah’s friend recalled the “unique bond” Sarah had with her mother, Dorrie, and the love of music she shared with her father, Dessie.

“Being an only child made her embrace people more, and friends became family, no matter where she went in the world, especially her girls - all with us in spirit, watching in New York, Florida, Miami, Texas, Perth,” said Áine.

“She treated everyone, regardless of who or what they were, with no judgment, and everyone loved her. She had an extensive group of friends, at home and abroad. She was loved and treasured by all of her ‘amigas and amigos’, as she called us.”

Sarah was “a girly girl”, teaching some of her friends how to put on makeup, Áine added, but she was also “a tomboy”, and wasn’t afraid to take on any task, whether it was “hopping up on a wall to dip the tank”, or making “the best mashed potatoes in Longford”.

“She was known for her love of cars, and she would have loved to rally Dorrie’s car when she was 15, if she could only get it past the driveway,” she said.

“Only Sarah would have a purple car that changed colour in the sun, and she was absolutely delighted when her picture appeared in a car magazine after she went to a rally.

“She lived the words of Tupac, which she had tattooed on her arm,” Áine continued, “‘Never stop dreaming, no one can take away your dreams’.”

Local publican Eddie Valentine, who owns Valentine’s pub in Longford, where Sarah worked before taking a role in the Irish Prison Service, was affectionately known to Sarah as “Uncle Ed”.

On behalf of the family, he thanked all those who supported the family during this difficult time, both locally and abroad.

“Sarah, you were a beautiful, unique, very special, kind and very loving girl with the most beautiful smile,” he said, in conclusion.

“You lit up the room everywhere you went and I have no doubt you are shining bright in Heaven now.

“We all loved you so much and we still will, all of us, and we’re going to miss you, so, so much. Until we meet again, rest in peace, Sarah.”

[ Keith Duggan: Sarah McNally moved to New York, worked in a bar: A very Irish life, cut violently short ]

Sarah McNally’s boyfriend has been formally indicted by a grand jury in New York and accused of her murder.

Marcin Pieciak (36), from 76th Street in Glendale, Queens, was held in custody after the stabbing at the bar she worked at in Queens on Saturday, March 30th.

Mr Pieciak has been charged with murder in the second degree, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. He is expected to enter a plea on April 19th.