ORGANISERS of the Mary From Dungloe festival say transgender women are welcome to apply for the annual contest.

The clarification comes following an announcement by the Rose of Tralee that it is expanding its qualifying criteria in a bid to make the festival more inclusive.

For the first time in its 62-year history, married women will be allowed to compete in the Rose of Tralee pageant. The age limit has also been extended and trans women are being encouraged to take part.

Anthea Atkinson is chairperson of the Mary From Dungloe International Arts Festival. She told the Donegal News that its committee voted last year to open the contest up to anyone who identifies as female.

“We indicated in March, prior to the Rose of Tralee’s announcement, that we would be accepting trans people and in fact when we did our virtual contest in the summer, we had a trans person on board. Unfortunately they pulled out at the last minute due to nerves,” Ms Atkinson revealed.

There is no upper age limit on entering the Mary From Dungloe however it is subject to a vote if an applicant is over 30. Following a shake up in the rules women with children can participate however at this stage married women cannot.

Ms Atkinson said the Mary festival – which runs this year from July 23 to August 1 – welcomes diversity and wants to be as inclusive as possible.

“Our line was that anyone who identifies as female can enter. They don’t have to be female, just as long as they identify as female.

“We do want to be as inclusive as we possibly can and for some time now we have been pushing for people with disabilities to get involved. We have had deaf contestants in the past but we are really encouraging individuals with missing limbs, autism, Down Syndrome, to come forward. As of yet though none of the organisations we have spoken to have been able to put anyone forward.”

On whether the Mary From Dungloe will be extended further to allow married women to take part, Anthea Atkinson said it remains under discussion.

“The board hasn’t been able to come to an agreement but I have absolutely no doubt that it will come again,” the festival chair added.