RELAXED entry rules for this year's Rose of Tralee festival will make it more "inclusive" with trans women now encouraged to apply, the event's host has said.
Dáithí Ó Sé was speaking following the launch of the long-running event which was put on hold for two years due to the pandemic.
The international competition is welcoming applicants who identify as female while those who are married can also enter for the first time.
The annual festival, which sees women of Irish descent from all over the world compete for the Rose of Tralee title, has extended the age bracket to include those up to the age of 29.
Speaking to RTÉ, Mr Ó Sé said the event is moving with the times.
"If you look at the Rose of Tralee from the beginning, there was a set of rules from the first day and those rules have changed as the years went on," he said.
"The Rose of Tralee has always been forwarding thinking, say for example there was a time where if you had a child you weren't allowed to enter, that changed a good few years ago."
The Co Kerry presenter added that he "really hopes" to welcome their first trans contestant on stage.
"It's about being inclusive, we're all here together, it's a very safe place and it's a good fun, happy place to be," he said.
In 2014, Maria Walsh became the first openly gay woman to win the title.
An MEP for Midlands-North-West, Ms Walsh said the change recognises that trans women are deserving of "more opportunities than perhaps what society had gifted them prior".
"I think it's only right that we fit within other international festivals also in terms of trans rights," she added.
"It's a sign of society moving at a faster pace than even our policy makers, myself included in that; not banning conversion therapy, delays in individuals who want to transition in terms of the lengthy process they have to go through."
