'Honour to come home,' says Hamnet star after picking up award

Jessie Buckley delivered an emotional, homecoming moment as she claimed Lead Actress award for her role in Hamnet at Friday's Irish Film and Television Academy awards.

Describing the past year as a “roller-coaster”, Buckley fought back tears as she accepted the honour for her haunting portrayal of Shakespeare’s wife, a performance that has already earned her Oscar and Bafta nominations.

“It’s really such an honour to come home and share this with you,” she said. “Growing up in Ireland, the very nature of storytelling, of music, of art, is a way of life- it is a way of community.”

Though born in Killarney, she has strong ties to the region through her mother Marina Cassidy, who hails from Kilmainhamwood and taught at Dunshaughlin National School.

Her Hamnet co-star Paul Mescal, who plays the Bard, was also honoured on the night, winning Best Supporting Actor, though he was absent from the ceremony.

Buckley, however, made sure he was felt in the room.

“I know everybody’s sick of me saying how much I love him. I love him,” she laughed, drawing warm applause.

Hamnet dominated the evening, scooping International Film and also Best Script.