Jessie Buckley's father enjoys 'a lovely sense of shared joy' in Killarney over Golden Globe win

Marie Moloney, a long-time member of the Killarney Musical Society said: Jessie 'always had a smile on her face. And there was a bit of devilment too — and it’s still there'

Jessie Buckley poses in the press room with the award for best performance by a female actor in a motion picture – drama for "Hamnet" during the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

A glowing coal fire blazed in the Arbutus Hotel in Killarney on Monday morning radiating the “shared joy” across the town from the Global Globe win by its very own Jessie Buckley.

Established by the actress's great grandparents, Tim Buckley and his wife Julia Daly, in 1926, the old style Arbutus Hotel is still a centre for traditional style and traditional music.

Jessie was a regular visitor to her late grandmother Dr Norrie Buckley and locals recalled how gleeful Dr Norrie would be about her granddaughter’s earlier successes.

Now run by Jessie’s uncle and godfather Sean Buckley and his wife Carol, the owners are immensely proud of Jessie, Pat Gill the hotel’s general manager said.

“Jessie spent a lot of time here with her grandmother Norrie. We all have very fond memories of her and there is a great reaction here. People are fiercely proud of her,” Mr Gill said. "Jessie was always great fun and full of life.”

Jessie's father, Tim Buckley, said there was "a lovely sense of shared joy" around the town.

We are very proud of Jessie. The whole parish is. It’s a big thing. There is a lovely sense of shared joy this morning. 

The family — Jessie is the eldest of five — who lived at the foot of Mangerton were known to be musical and involved in the arts from a young age and were once described as like the Von Trapp family from the Sound of Music.

Tim writes poetry. Concerts by Jessica’s mother Marina Cassidy, a trained classical harpist and soprano, at the nearby Fransciscan friary, Muckross House and other venues would always be well attended.

Marie Moloney, a long-time member of the Killarney Musical Society said it was "obvious" to the society from way back Jessie would go far.

Oliver Hurley, director of the society’s musical Carousel in 2008 for which Jessie won best actress for the part of Julie Jordan in the AIMS amateur music awards when she was aged just 17, had predicted at the time she would go on and win an Oscar, Marie said.

Joe Alwyn, from left, Noah Jupe, Chloe Zhao, Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, and Jacobi Jupe in the press room with the award for best motion picture - drama for 'Hamnet' at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday. Photo: AP/Chris Pizzello

“She started with us in 2000 in the children’s chorus in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat and was cast in the lead role in 2008,” Marie recalled.

While the growth of stage schools has meant many children who arrive into musicals these days have training, it was very obvious Jessie also had “raw talent”, Marie said. But she always “took direction” from Oliver.

“She always had a smile on her face. And there was a bit of devilment too — and it’s still there!” Marie said.