Killarney actress Jessie Buckley has officially been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film Hamnet.

The news, which broke at lunchtime on Thursday, has sparked widespread celebrations across the town, with Buckley now considered a strong favourite to secure the win on March 15.

This marks the second Oscar nomination for the star.

She was previously nominated in 2021 for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Lost Daughter, eventually losing out to Ariana DeBose.

This time, however, industry experts see her as the overwhelming frontrunner to take home the statuette.

In Hamnet, Buckley plays Agnes, the wife of William Shakespeare, starring alongside Paul Mescal.

While the film brought glory to Buckley, there was disappointment for her co-star as the Kildare man narrowly missed out on a nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

The excitement in Killarney was palpable as the nominations were announced live from Hollywood.

A large crowd gathered at the Arbutus Hotel on College Street, owned by Jessie’s Uncle Sean to toast her success.

Radio Kerry broadcast live from the hotel throughout the afternoon, capturing the electric atmosphere as locals celebrated.

The sport of pickleball continues to grow in the Killarney area with the addition of a second club in Fossa and another new club on the district fringes in Duhallow.

Killarney Pickleball Club kicked off the new year by hosting two visiting clubs last week.
On Sunday, members welcomed their nearest neighbours from County Cork, the Duhallow club based near Kanturk.
On Tuesday morning, the club welcomed Fossa, their nearest local rivals in Kerry. The two groups were already well-acquainted as both clubs share a number of players between them.
Michael Lyne of the Killarney club noted that the growth of the sport locally has been remarkable. He highlighted the social and competitive benefits of these inter-club meetings, which help build a strong community for players of all ages and abilities.
For those looking to take up the sport, Fossa Pickleball currently plays on Thursday afternoons in the Old Church. Killarney Pickleball Club continues its regular schedule at the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre, with sessions held on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am and Thursday evenings at 8:00 pm.