'We might call it St Jessie's Day': Oscar winner's family raise the roof back home in Killarney
TV cameras gathered at Killarney’s Arbutus Hotel on Monday, with reporters lining up to talk to Jessie Buckley’s family just hours after her historic Oscar win.
Hours earlier, as Buckley became the first Irish woman to take home the Best Actress Oscar at the 98th Academy Awards ceremony, held in Los Angeles on Sunday night, the "roof almost lifted off" the venue.
Almost 60 family and close friends had gathered at the Arbutus Hotel, owned by the Buckley family for 100 years, to watch the Oscars ceremony live, cheering on the local star's hotly-tipped victory shortly after 2am.
Jessie won the award for her role as Agnes in 'Hamnet', directed by Chloe Zhao and featuring fellow Irish star Paul Mescal as her husband William Shakespeare.
Seán Buckley, Jessie’s uncle and godfather, and owner of the Arbutus Hotel and Buckley’s Bar, said that words could not describe the atmosphere there last night.
“She was the favourite to win, but there was still that fear that she may not. So then when the words were actually said... the roof nearly lifted off the house. It was great.
“The authentic, genuine Irish girl that you see, that's Jessie with good core values.
“It is incredible to see that she got the rewards for all her hard work and for her art.
“I’m just so, so proud.”
Growing up, Jessie was “terrific” and “good bold”, Seán said, adding that she was an artistic and musical child.
“Their house was very much a music house. They had music instruments lying all around the place, harp, piano, flute, drums.
“But also sport and the outdoors. Jessie was an incredible swimmer. And when she was into swimming, she would get up at five o'clock in the morning to go to the swimming pool.
“So the dedication was there from a very early age."
Jessie’s roots in Killarney and in her musical, artistic, loving family, have been mentioned frequently in her many award speeches and throughout her Oscar campaign in recent months.
Her mother Marina was a singer and harpist and her father was a poet.
The dedication to her craft stayed with her into adult life.
“She is constantly improving, constantly upskilling herself," explained Seán.
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“She went to clown college to learn more mime. She's doing language, accents, constantly upping it.”
Working on , and the environment that director Chloé Zhao created, “allowing people to be themselves” was an exceptional experience for Jessie, he said.
“And for us to see Jessie grow within that careful environment. It's been just magical.”
Emer Buckley, Jessie’s first cousin, travelled back home to Killarney from Vancouver to watch the Oscars with the extended family.
They have seen her go from school musicals and performances in living rooms to captivating global audiences.
“But now we get to share that with the world and see everybody else discovering and learning this little secret that we've had for the last 30 something years," said Emer.
Jessie's authenticity is something "you can't fake", she said, adding that it has had an impact on Hollywood.
Irish history and folklore and the tradition of the seanchaí were all present in the Jessie's childhood.
"Our Nana would have been such a strong matriarch of the family. And storytelling, fun, grá, love were core to everything," said Emer.
“And I think those roots have been set down and followed through with Jessie's parents. And you can just see it in her.
“And that's probably what, as a family, we're most proud of.
“Because this is just a whirlwind of an experience and an insane industry. But to see her stay so true to herself and her values. And to see herself represent herself so eloquently and beautifully.
Jimmy Lyons, a first cousin of Jessie’s father Tim, said that listening to her parents — a poet and a musician — speak, with their shared love of language and ability to convey emotion, is something that now echoes in Jessie herself and in her work.
That, allied with 18 years spent developing her craft, “has allowed her to see this current success for the wonder that it is, but also to know that it's not the most important thing", said Jimmy.
“She has the excitement of a schoolgirl — and I don't think she'll ever lose that.”
Celebrations will continue through St Patrick’s Day for Jessie.
“I think we might call it St Jessie's Day, just for this year,” Jimmy said.
Brendan Fuller, Jessie’s first cousin and a radio presenter with Radio Kerry, said that he “almost hit the ceiling” when her historic win was announced.
“The place is just buzzing. I think the whole country is,” he said.
“She was a favorite, a heavy favorite. But it didn't feel like that here last night.
"The nerves were starting to build, especially because was nominated for 12 awards, and she was the only one that won from .
“So I was terrified. I was just so relieved, so delighted that it was Jessie Buckley's name that was called.
“And seeing her then glide up the steps and deliver that speech, you're talking about the cherry on top of the cake.”
Jessie's win is a hugely proud moment for the family, he said.
“But it is also for Killarney, it's for Kerry, it's for Ireland. And it's for the history books now.
“And that Buckley name is now on a little statuette.
“It's amazing what Jessie's able to achieve and what she's been able to conquer. She moves so many people."
Despite the “intense pressure and the focus from the whole world, all eyes are on her," over the last six months as an Oscar favourite, Jessie was able to “handle it all and take it in her stride.
“And she's exactly as she is in all the interviews, she's great craic, a deep thinker, and just great fun.
“I couldn't wish this for anyone nicer.”
Jessie, who lives in Norfolk in the UK, will be “looked after” by the people of Killarney whenever she gets to return home.
“It's a bit like with Michael Fassbender, nobody bothers them because we know it's their safe space. This is their living room.
“They get to kick the shoes off and relax when they're here.
"She's a superstar. And it's lovely to know that everyone in Kerry and Killarney will all just mind them and leave them at it."
Fiona Crowley, owner of Fiona Crowley Stage School, said that Jessie worked for her after finishing her Leaving Cert.
“She was an upcoming talent. And she was a very kind human being, which is very important."
Jessie’s rise to international prominence began when she took part in the BBC talent show , first broadcast on March 15, 2018, Mr Crowley said.
Eight years later, Jessie now holds an Oscar.
“She got the audition for the show, where Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh were looking for a new Nancy, for a new West End version of .
“And she went there every week then to the BBC studios and performed a reality TV show. Which was brutal in a lot of ways and yet, grounding in a lot of ways as well. And funnily enough, she came second in that.
“So it's really good to know that you don't have to win everything to win.”
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