Killarney's Pride Swells as Jessie Buckley Aims for Historic Oscar Win
If Jessie Buckley secures the Oscar for Best Actress this Sunday, County Kerry will have undeniable proof of a beloved local belief: being born in this picturesque Irish region is truly a divine blessing. The award would honour Buckley's performance in Hamnet, but for her hometown of Killarney, nestled in the area affectionately known as the Kingdom, the pride traces back to her early days performing in community theatre productions.
"Hollywood here we come!" declared Kerry's Eye newspaper, capturing the collective sentiment that Buckley's journey to the 98th Academy Awards is a shared triumph, driven by her innate talent, unwavering determination, and deep-rooted connections to her origins.
Community Spirit and High Stakes
The writer John B Keane once humorously described Kerry heritage as a gift from God with "awesome responsibility"—a notion that will feel validated if Buckley makes history as the first Irish woman to claim the Best Actress Oscar. "Everyone will tune in – she's one of our own," remarked Sinead Van Bladel, a supermarket employee who crafted Jessie Buckley masks for her colleagues in a show of solidarity.
Bookmakers have positioned Buckley as the clear frontrunner, ahead of contenders like Rose Byrne, Emma Stone, Kate Hudson, and Renate Reinsve, for her portrayal of Agnes Hathaway, William Shakespeare's wife, in the film adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel. To date, the only Irish women to have won acting Oscars are Brenda Fricker, who took home Best Supporting Actress for My Left Foot in 1990, and Maureen O'Hara, recipient of an honorary award in 2014.
Amid the palpable excitement, an unspoken question lingers among Buckley's family and friends: what if she doesn't win? "Oh God, the disappointment. We'd of course still be proud but can you imagine the anticlimax?" shared one anonymous relative, wary of jinxing the outcome. "I don't want to be blamed for putting a hex on it."
Creative Tributes and Local Celebrations
Radio Kerry has sparked a wave of creativity by offering a €1,000 prize for the most inventive good luck messages, inspiring a flood of songs, iced buns, plaques, poems, sand art, coffee foam designs, and crocheted wall hangings. A group of children with special needs each selected a word to express how Buckley inspires them: "Brave," "Inspired," and "Seen." Even Taoiseach Micheál Martin has recorded a supportive message.
The Oscar result is poised to influence St Patrick's Day festivities, with some in Killarney jokingly proposing a new bank holiday if Buckley completes her sweep of acting awards. Others suggest she should receive the freedom of Kerry and complimentary drinks in every local pub.
Well-wishers and television crews have descended on the Arbutus Hotel, founded by Buckley's great-grandparents and still family-owned. "It's all go, all week," noted bartender Denis O'Connor. "It's great for Kerry and great for the young – she's a role model. For all her movies, she never forgot her roots."
Intimate Gatherings and Personal Reflections
Carol Dempsey, an aunt of Buckley, revealed that the adjacent Buckley's Bar will close to the public at 7 pm on Sunday, allowing relatives and close friends to gather privately and follow the Los Angeles ceremony. "This isn't a media spectacle for us," she explained. "We want to celebrate the essence of Jessie and this moment. We're not shouters, we like to whisper."
Dempsey emphasised that regardless of the outcome, Buckley will continue to excel and find joy in her craft. "Accolades are important but they're not everything," she said. "We have a lovely phrase that I feel really encapsulates the essence of Jessie. While many feel that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, we feel that for Jessie it's in the heart of the possessor."
At the tourist office, Finola White, who has curated a gallery of Buckley images, admired a Vogue photo essay featuring the star in baroque attire. "The clothes are amazing, but she still looks like Jessie."
Roots and Rising Stardom
Buckley's siblings and parents have joined her in Los Angeles for the event. Hailing from a musical family, her artistic destiny seemed preordained, though local lore recalls a childhood incident during a production of Jesus Christ Superstar that nearly derailed it. At around seven years old, she believed the actor on the cross had died and was so distressed that she was taken backstage to meet him.
Teachers at her school described her as "grámhar"—full of heart—always eager to participate in sports, singing, and dancing. Buckley honed her skills at the local musical society, placed second in a BBC talent show, and trained at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, paving the way for numerous television and film roles.
John Fitzgerald, 65, enjoying a pint at Buckley's Bar, reflected on her success. "She's been on the go for 20 years," he said, attributing her edge to both her Kerry heritage and her steadfast dedication to her craft.
