Family and locals of Jessie Buckley's hometown react to her historic win.

Jessie Buckley’s cousin, Brendan Fuller, has said he’d never experienced anything like Jessie Buckley’s Best Actress win at the Oscars last night. 

Jessie Buckley won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Chloe Zhao's critically acclaimed Hamnet.

She becomes the first Irish woman to be named Best Actress during the Academy Awards.

She had previously won a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, an Actor Award and a Critic’s Choice Award for her portrayal of grieving mother Agnes Hathaway.

Speaking to Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live on Monday, he said he and a few of Buckley’s relatives “nearly hit the roof” when results were announced. 

“We nearly swung off the chandeliers, the whole lot.

“It was like Italia 90 and the Grand Slam in 2009. Every big Irish win collided and combined into one, and all just within that room in Buckley's. It was just surreal.”

Relatives and family friends of the Buckley family gathered inside the Buckley’s pub in Killarney, Co Kerry. 

Aer Lingus crew members Shane Lynch and Megan Fuller welcomed the family of Best Actress nominee, Jessie Buckley, to Dublin Airport. Picture by: Leon Farrell.

Mr Fuller told Lunchtime Live that they were dressed in black tie formal attire to watch the ceremony broadcasted from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. 

“If there is the chance to doll up and dress up [we’ll take it]. It's so rare that you get to put on a suit for such a good, happy reason”, he said. 

“We wanted to bring the glitz and the glamour to Killarney.

“College Street is where my mom grew up and her dad grew up. It was such a special night and that bit of giddiness, the glitz and glam and the craic - it was just unreal.”

Buckley’s Bar, located in the Artabus Hotel, welcomed about 50 or 60 people last night to support Jessie Buckley’s Oscar bid.

“It was a very late night, it didn’t feel like time existed. But what a lovely reason to be busy, you know, to be talking about one of the most historic achievements.

“You just end up staring and wishing and praying and trying to wish it over the line. And then it was announced: Jessie Buckley. And I nearly hit the ceiling, the whole place exploded.

“And I was just watching the screen because I was just hoping I wasn't dreaming.”

Mayor of Killarney Martin Grady said Jessie Buckley had made herself, her town, her county incredibly proud.”

“I live less than one kilometre from the Arbutus and I think I felt a ground shake last night when the award came through.

“She's going to make Killarney extra special tomorrow for St. Patrick's Day.”

The mayor teased plans for a homecoming ceremony for Buckley in her hometown of Killarney, Co. Kerry. 

Hamnet (2025) directed by Chloe Zhao. Picture by: Agata Grzybowska.

Joane Butler, one of Buckley’s music teachers from the Ursuline school in Thurles said her victory was a wonderful victory for the school. 

“We are just so privileged to have been a small step on her journey and to have watched her trajectory over the past 20 years. 

“We’ve watched her go from strength to strength. We are just so thrilled for her today and the whole community is buzzing.”

Main Image: Jessie Buckley pictured with her Oscar.