Former Rose of Tralee, Maria Walsh says she never stopped being a Catholic, despite the Church’s preachings on homosexuality

Walsh, who recently returned to Ireland after making a TV documentary on the Camino de Santiago in Spain, said she remains aligned with the Church, having been educated in a Catholic school.

“My parish and my priest in particular are really open and really cool,” she said, adding that she goes to mass on Sundays.

“It’s a trendy thing again, at least spirituality,” she opined. “You can see it on the likes of Lough Derg and the Camino, people are out searching. Particularly around the ages of 25-35, that’s your transitional phase. At least that’s what I’ve heard.”

While walking the 500 mile Camino pilgrimage, Walsh took the opportunity to learn more about LGBT issues and religion.

“For me it would be more personalised stories, I think it’s definitely needed,” she said. “Particularly with the two worlds, LGBT and religion.”