A pension age Irish farmer is much happier now that she is transitioning from being a man to a woman.
Farmer Erica Coates, 65, who was born as Eric, now enjoys wearing pink wellies and skirts as she goes about her working day.
She always felt different to others growing up and loved having long hair and painting her nails.
Last year, she decided to take the plunge and begin the process of transitioning from a man to a woman, she told RTE Radio 1’s Liveline on Friday.
She knew previously that she was transgender after watching an episode of the The Late Late Show, in which an interviewee shared the story of her transition.
Erica identified immediately with the story, as it explained how she had been feeling for so many years - but kept her thoughts to herself.
Erica told Liveline presenter Joe Duffy: “I kept it to myself totally for years and years. It wasn’t easy.
“I felt very bad in myself for a long time. You don’t know what you are or what way you’re going.”
Erica’s father died three years ago, and she never spoke to him about her experiences, as she didn’t think he would approve.
After her father died, Erica began to start thinking about transitioning, and about telling other people.
The first person she came out to was a makeup artist at a Lancôme counter in Cork.
Erica said: “Bit by bit I was trying to come out with it and eventually I was in Cork one day and I decided to go over to Debenhams.
“I wanted to get some makeup and there was a very nice girl talking to me from the Lancôme counter.
“And I just said I was just interested in a bit of makeup and she said a lot of men are doing that now. And it just kind of came out of me, that I was actually transitioning, or thinking of coming out.
“And she was so nice to me, so honest and genuine. She was the first person in the world I said it to.”
Erica’s family, as well as her friends, have been delighted for her, and have said they were not shocked by the revelation.
Erica told Joe: “So many people have commented about how much happier I appear to be now.”
