Longford woman murdered in NYC laid to rest in Ireland

The funeral for Sarah McNally, the Irish woman who was murdered in Maspeth, Queens on March 30, was held today, April 8, in her native Co Longford.

Fr. Michael McGrath, who delivered Mc‐ Nally's funeral service at St. Mel's Cathedral in Longford on Monday morn‐ ing, told mourners:"None of us want to be here this morning.

"Sarah's death has stopped us in our tracks. It has caused darkness to de‐ scend, especially on her family: her mother Dorrie, father Des, her grand‐ mother 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."

In his homily, Fr McGrath said that "the shining light of Sarah McNally was quenched in a most horrific manner" and that her murder is "sinister entirely." He continued: "Those who knew Sarah best remember a vivacious young woman who loved life, her cars - her loud, souped-up cars.

"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 9 to 5 of‐ fice job in the civil service was never going to be enough to offer excitement for her. It was only a matter of time be‐ fore she spread her wings and headed international.

"Her nature was adventurous and gener‐ ous. Her laughter and sense of fun, wildly infectious. In her short lifespan of 41 years, she's left behind a trail of joy‐ ful light. The darkness that is being suf‐ fered now can never cancel out all the good enjoyed then. In fact, it only makes the memories all the sweeter."

Later in the Mass, McNally's friend Áine said Sarah was "larger than life, she was someone special, a unique force to be reckoned with who was made for great things.

"Everyone in her community at home and abroad are shell-shocked, none more so than her beloved family."

Áine said Sarah was "so well-known for her beauty, kindness, and huge person‐ ality. She went out to take on the world with the abilities she gained from her doting parents.

"There are so many good things we could say about her and there's just not enough time. She was loyal, trustworthy, so warm, and she gave the best hugs." Speaking after Áine, Sarah's uncle Ed described his niece as a "beautiful, unique, very special, kind, and very lov‐ ing girl with the most beautiful smile. "You lit up the room everywhere you went and I’ve no doubt you are shining bright in heaven now.

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

McNally, who had been living and work‐ ing in the US for a number of years, died on Saturday night, March 30 after being stabbed while working at The Céilí House, an Irish bar in Maspeth, Queens. On Monday, April 1, McNally's boyfriend Marcin Pieciak, 36, was arrested and charged with murder in the second de‐ gree and two counts of criminal posses‐ sion of a weapon in the fourth degree. According to The Daily News, the court heard during the arraignment that Pieciak and McNally's relationship "was not going well" and that McNally had been considering returning to Ireland. The Queens District Attorney's Office says that according to the charges, Pieciak stabbed McNally multiple times at The Céilí House, where she was bar‐ tending.

Pieciak cut his own throat several times and tried to leave the bar. A bar patron made efforts to detain Pieciak until police arrived.

Police recovered two knives from the ground after observing Pieciak drop them as he left the bar.

Pieciak faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted. He was indicted on April 5, the same day that McNally's fu‐ neral arrangements were announced. McNally's family has requested that do‐ nations, if desired, be made to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust or c/o Glennon Funeral Directors or any family member. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe launched in New York for the funeral and associated costs for the family of McNally has raised nearly $13,000 as of Mondayy morning. The fundraising page says that details about a memorial mass for Mc‐ Nally will follow.