LIMERICK man Dylan Grace is among the many left shocked and devastated by the sudden death of fashion designer Martha Nolan, who was found dead on a yacht in New York.
The Ennis Road native had been both a close friend and business partner of the 33-year-old, who was discovered on a yacht at the Montauk Yacht Club in East Hampton, Long Island, New York, on Tuesday, August 5.
The cause of death of the Carlow woman has not yet been officially determined.
Dylan Grace, originally from Ashbrook on the Ennis Road and currently based in New York, co-founded resortwear brand East x East with Ms Nolan in 2021.
In an interview with the Irish Independent in February of last year, Ms Nolan described the Limerick man as “one of my best friends”.
“We were living in the same building during Covid spending time together and that is when I started the Amazon business. My team at Ogilvy had gotten furloughed and I was looking to do something different,” she told the Irish Independent.
“I live alone and work from home. Dylan has just opened a bar so often I go there during the day to work as it is closed then. At home it is hard to stop working, some days I will realise I have not stepped outside at all.”
In an Instagram post paying tribute to his late friend, Mr Grace wrote: “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.”
He shared a collection of photos of the young businesswoman, some by herself, some with him and some with other associates.
Condolences flooded in on the post’s comment section, with one Instagram user saying: “My heart is in pieces. You guys were the best team and I know she loved you with all her heart.”
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Other commenters said “The best duo, she loved and admired you so much, Dylan,” and “I’m so sorry brother. Martha was a beautiful light that shined on so many. I know her light will continue to shine through you and others.”
East x East, which Mr Grace co-founded alongside Ms Nolan, sells swimwear, eyewear and other resortwear.
The brand was founded on “the belief that fashion should not come at the expense of our planet”.
“We infuse the energy and creativity of the city into our designs, while also paying tribute to the natural beauty and chic lifestyle of The Hamptons,” a description on the brand’s website reads.
Mr Grace went on to co-found Chelsea Living Room in 2023, described as “a supper club for the perfect friend of a friend encounter”.
Describing himself as an “Irish transplant in New York,” Mr Grace was raised in Limerick.
During his fifth year studying at Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, he starred in RTÉ’s Mission Beach TV series in 2011, which filmed over three weeks in Florida.
He was one of eight 16-year-olds selected out of 5,500 applicants to take part in the show and train in “America’s toughest lifeguard school” – the Fort Lauderdale Junior Lifeguard Programme.
A rower and coach with Shannon Rowing Club during his secondary school days, Mr Grace was also president of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) from April 2012 to April 2013.
Following this experience, he received a personal recommendation from the former Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn, who described Mr Grace as “a talented young man with a very bright future ahead of him”.
He went on to attain a BA in Applied Languages & Economics from University of Limerick, before getting a Masters degree in Project Management from University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky.
The funeral arrangements for Ms Nolan are expected to be announced this week.