At the announcement were Team Ireland players Tara Delaney, Rebecca Coakley and Martina Gillen with Roddy Carr, Twelve Eleven, Event Promoters, Redmond O’Donoghue, Failte Ireland and John Rice, General Manager, AIB Bank

John Rice, General Manager, AIB Bank stated: “Our support for women’s golf has been very well received with over 2000 women from 140 clubs around the country participating in the AIB Ladies Irish Open Amateur Challenge and will go forward to play in this year’s AIB Pro-Am at the magnificent Killeen Castle. This is proving to be a great build up to The 2011 Solheim Cup of which we are proud Global sponsors.”

Fáilte Ireland: Keith McCormack, Head of Golf & Business Tourism:“Women’s golf is the fastest growing segment in golf and as a result is has the potential to deliver new business for Ireland and the golf industry. Research shows that golf tourism to Ireland delivers a lot of repeat and referral business, and that 70% of women are the travel decision makers. Our support of the AIB Ladies Irish Open is part of Fáilte Ireland’s new business development strategy , culminating in Ireland’s hosting of The 2011 Solheim Cup, which will be the biggest women’s sporting event ever played in Ireland.”

Ladies European Tour Executive Director; Alexandra Armas, said:“This is the third year that AIB and Fáilte Ireland have been title partners of the AIB Ladies Irish Open, supported by Fáilte Ireland, and we believe that this year’s event will be an even bigger success than in previous years. The 2010 event has attracted a truly world class, international field and the quality of the competitors clearly demonstrates their excitement and eagerness to play at Killeen Castle, The 2011 Solheim Cup venue.”

Twenty Eleven, Event Promoters; Roddy Carr commented: ‘There is one formula that works for golf events in Ireland: bring the best players in the world and the people will come to see them. This is what we set out to do at this year’s event with the move to the splendid Jack Nicklaus designed course at Killeen Castle. We were thrilled with the response from quality Americans, who obviously see the event as a curtain raiser for The 2011 Solheim Cup.”