Although her name would not be widely known among the general public, Sarah Henry managed to become a seminal force in Irish fashion during the past four years. At her funeral earlier this month, some of the country's most talented young designers, retailers, models and promoters united to celebrate Sarah's special talent - the ability to inspire through her own seemingly limitless enthusiasm. "She brought an element of lunacy into fashion," said one admirer afterwards, referring to the dazzling boldness of Sarah's personality and her refusal to countenance anything other than the best in her life.
Originally from Northern England, Sarah Henry moved to Dublin in 1994 after meeting designer Marc O'Neill when both were students in Leicester. Together, they set up the business bearing his name and while Marc was primarily responsible for the creative side, Sarah assumed managerial and marketing responsibilities. However, she took a keen and active involvement in every aspect of the company, acting as, for want of a better term, his muse. In addition, she was the ideal advertisement for Marc O'Neill's label since his clothes were always shown to advantage on her dainty, elfin figure. Even when their personal association ended, Sarah continued to work with Marc until precluded by illness. Assiduous in promoting Marc and his designs, Sarah nonetheless managed to make the task look like an effortless pleasure. She clearly adored her work and the world with which it brought her into contact. Very quickly, she made a wide and constantly expanding circle of friends in Ireland, many of them understandably having some association with fashion. Everyone who encountered her could not fail to note Sarah's enormous eyes and her equally large and seductive smile. Her high spirits were matched by an abiding interest in the welfare of others; even during her illness, she always tended to open conversation with an inquiry about someone else's well-being. She was a mere 23 years of age when she died in late April. Her absence will be powerfully felt not just by her family, her fiance Fred Hanna and all her friends, but also by the Irish fashion industry. R.O'B.