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Former Ursuline Convent Thurles student Ms Jessie Buckley wins Lead Actress (Film) at 2026 IFTA Awards for Hamnet.
As was expected, former Ursuline Convent Thurles secondary school student Ms Jessie Buckley has won the Irish Film & Television Academy Award for Lead Actress (Film), honoured for her performance as William Shakespeare’s wife in Hamnet.
Accepting the award at the ceremony in Dublin, Ms Buckley described the past year as a “roller-coaster” and said it was an honour to “come home” to celebrate with the Irish creative community, reflecting on how storytelling, music and art shaped her upbringing.
In her remarks, she also paid tribute to her co-star Mr Paul Mescal, who portrays Shakespeare in the film, adding that she loves him.
Mr Mescal was named Supporting Actor (Film) for Hamnet , but was not present to collect the award.
Hamnet was among the night’s standout winners, also receiving the International Film award and Script (Film) honour and shared between Ms Maggie O’Farrell and Ns Chloé Zhao.
Ms Buckley, who formerly attended the Ursuline Secondary School here in Thurles, has also been recognised during the current awards season for her work in Hamnet, including major international nominations.
Gardaí and emergency services have confirmed that a man in his 60s has died following a fatal collision with a lorry on a rural road in County Tipperary yesterday afternoon.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:35pm on Thursday, 19th February, along the L8109 road at Ardloman, Breansha, near the Glen of Aherlow, in the west of the county.
Emergency services, including local Gardaí and ambulance crews, responded swiftly after the alarm was raised informing them that a pedestrian had been struck by a heavy goods vehicle.
Despite the rapid response by first responders, the pedestrian, latter a male aged in his 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Gardaí have confirmed that no other injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
A technical examination of the collision site has been conducted by Garda forensic personnel to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash. Standard procedures have been followed, with both the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and the Coroner notified as part of the ongoing process. Representatives from the HSA have acknowledged the fatality and indicated that a formal investigation has been launched.
Gardaí say that investigations remain ongoing, and they have not released further details regarding the victim’s identity or specific causes at this time.
Gardaí are encouraging anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or who may have relevant dash-cam footage from the L8109 area around the time of the incident, to come forward to assist with inquiries.
No additional information has yet been provided about the circumstances leading up to the collision, and it is not yet clear if road or weather conditions were a contributing factor.
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Thursday 19th February 2026, of Mr Oliver Nolan, Donaghmede, Co. Dublin and formerly of Collinstown, Co Westmeath and Holycross, Thurles, Co Tipperary.
Pre-deceased by his parents, brothers Peter, Patsy and Joe, sisters Kathleen, Maisie and Bernadette; Mr Nolan passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family, while in the care of staff at St Francis Hospice, Raheny, Co. Dublin.
His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving wife Marie, son Eamon, daughters Bróna and Eimear, grandchildren Lily, Aoibheann, Jamie and Ollie, sons-in-law James and Ciarán, daughter-in-law Mags, sister Chrissie, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The earthly remains of Mr Nolan will repose at Jennings Funeral Home, Oscar Traynor Road, Coolock, Dublin 17, (Eircode D17 FK58) on Tuesday afternoon, February 24th, from 2:00pm until 4:00pm.
His remains will be received into the Church of Holy Trinity, Donaghmede, Dublin 13, (Eircode D13 HP20) on Wednesday morning to further repose for Requiem Mass at 10:00am, followed by a service of cremation in Dardistown Crematorium, Collinstown Cross, Old Airport Rd, Dardistown, Dublin, (Eircode K67 HP26).
For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mr Nolan, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Nolan family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Note Please: Family flowers only. Donations in lieu of flowers to St. Francis Hospice in memory of Mr Oliver Nolan.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
Sinn Féin’s decision this week to stay away from St Patrick’s Day events at the White House has taken a new turn, after the US embassy said the party wasn’t invited in the first place, and is not expected to be.
In a statement issued to Irish press, Mr Edward Walsh said that “no members of Sinn Féin have been invited to the White House, and none are expected to be invited”. He added that announcing a boycott “of an event for which invitations have neither been extended nor finalised is premature”.
What Sinn Féin said and why it said it.
Earlier in the week, Sinn Féin leader Ms Mary Lou McDonald said no party representatives would attend White House St Patrick’s Day events, citing the situation in Gaza Strip and the need for international attention to remain focused on Palestine.
The party position was framed as a protest and a statement of principle. Sinn Féin also indicated it was working on the assumption an invitation would again be issued, noting that invitations are often made close to the event itself.
It will be remembered that critics have long pointed to Sinn Féin’s past engagement with Hamas, including meetings, as a political vulnerability, even as the party insists its position is rooted in international law and support for Palestinian statehood.
The key update: “not invited” and “not expected”.
The embassy statement, however, cuts across that narrative. The message from Washington, via Dublin, is effectively, there is no invitation to decline.
The ambassador also pointed to what he described as unusually strong demand for access to this year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations at the White House, presenting it as a sign of the “depth and vitality” of the US–Ireland relationship.
Wider context: who is going and who isn’t.
While Sinn Féin is opting out (and now being told it wasn’t on the invite list anyway), Taoiseach Mr Micheál Martin has confirmed he has accepted an invitation to meet Donald Trump at the White House on St Patrick’s Day (March 17).
Separately, Sinn Féin’s senior leadership in Northern Ireland has also indicated it will not attend: Michelle O’Neill has said she will not go to this year’s White House events, also citing Gaza.
Why it matters
This is now less a simple “boycott” story and more a three-way political dynamic:–
- A party staking out a moral position on Gaza, and seeking to use the St Patrick’s Day spotlight as leverage.
- A US administration controlling access tightly, signalling who is , and isn’t, welcome in a high-profile diplomatic theatre.
- An Irish Government continuing the annual engagement, arguing that the relationship is too economically and strategically important to step away from, even amid controversy.
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, today Thursday 19th February 2026, of Mrs Margaret (Peg) Cormack, of Barna, Templetuohy, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly of Ballyerk, Moyne, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
In her ninety-fifth year, Mrs Cormack passed away peacefully, following a short illness, while in the care of the medical and nursing staff, at Tullamore General Hospital.
Her passing is most deeply regretted and lovingly remembered by her primary carers, her nephew John Butler and his wife Carmel, their daughters Louise and Aileen, Peg’s brother-in-law Larry Maher (Kilduff, Killea), her devoted nephews and nieces and their spouses, the Butler family (Barna, Templetuohy), Helen (Meehan), Seamus, Willie, Patricia (Martin), John, Michael and Marie (French), the Maher family (Kilduff, Killea), Mairead (Vaughan), Tim, Sharon and Liam; grandnieces and grandnephews, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The earthly remains of Mrs Cormack will be received into the Church of the Sacred Heart, Church Lane, Longorchard, Templetuohy, Thurles at 11:00am on Saturday morning, February 21st, to repose for Requiem Mass at 11:30am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in Moyne Old Cemetery, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
The extended families wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.
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