Following the announcement of the relaxed entry requirements for 2022, Rose of Tralee host Dáithí Ó Sé has said he "can't wait" to welcome the first trans woman on stage at the festival.
The international festival is back after a two-year, pandemic-enforced hiatus and is heralding a "new era" as it now welcomes applicants who identify as female and those who are married, as well as increasing the age limit to 29.
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment at Friday's festival launch, the Kerry presenter said the long-running 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."
"If you look at the Rose of Tralee and look at what Irish women are doing in that particular year, I think it is a very good image and reflection of what's happening.
"Trans women in the Rose of Tralee; I just can't wait to get the first trans woman up on stage because it's going to be great fun."
The 45-year-old TV presenter added that he "really hopes" that the festival will welcome its first trans contestant this year.
"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.
Maria Walsh, the first openly gay Rose of Tralee in 2014 and current MEP for Midlands-North-West, 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 said.
"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.
"I hope it forces another conversation like we had in 2014 around what our society wants to welcome. I think it's a fantastic addition."
She continued: "I heard Dáithí say earlier he cannot wait to interview someone who wants to share their lived experiences, be it married or trans or another Rainbow community member.
"I think that is a testament to the modern woman in modern society that we live in, and when we start placing her, or however she identifies, in a box, then we're limiting ourselves and limiting the movement that you feel is quite palpable now in 2022 with Irish women, and across the world."
Anthony O'Gara, the CEO Rose of Tralee International Festival, said that increasing the festival's diversity and inclusion was necessary.
"If we're going to be real about celebrating women, and that's the essence of what we do, we need to be diverse, and we need to be welcoming and inclusive," he said.
"The generation that's there now are much more aware and sensitive and intelligent about how they view life and how they see each other and how they see themselves. That's a wonderful thing and we need to be part of that.
"The notion that you can't be involved with the Rose of Tralee because of who you are would be nuts, because how can you celebrate Irish people if you don't celebrate Irish people?"
Sinéad Flanagan, the 2019 winner and reigning Rose, added: "I'm excited to welcome those changes and have anyone who would like to be involved with the festival come and enjoy the fun."
Walsh was effusive in her praise of the festival and says it has brought to her life "forever friends, a strong bunch of powerful women".
She said: "It gifted me the podium I stand on. I am incredibly indebted to, not just the festival, but the people of Tralee who welcomed me and my family in in 2014 and when I decided to put my hand up and get involved with the political life based off all that I had learned and all I had experienced in my year as a Rose of Tralee."
Ó Sé added that he was "like a coiled spring" ahead of this August's event. "We have two years of energy built up and ready to go! You can even feel the fun and the excitement here today."
Applications to become the 2022 Rose of Tralee are now open, for further information visit roseoftralee.ie
The Rose of Tralee International Festival takes place from 19 - 23 August, 2022.
