Updated: Wednesday, 19th August, 2009 5:40pm

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Killeen's Solheim Cup dates announced

by John Donohoe

The Ladies European Tour (LET) has announced that the 2011 Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle in Dunsany will be played from 23rd-25th September.

"We have chosen to move The Solheim Cup back to September for a number of reasons," said Alexandra Armas, executive director of the LET. "In consultation with our stakeholders and global partners AIB, PING and ROLEX, we have chosen a date that will ensure that the whole nation is able to support the event. Given the great success of the Ryder Cup in Ireland in September 2006, we anticipate that the Irish public will contribute to taking The Solheim Cup to a higher level. The countdown to The 2011 Solheim Cup begins now!"

Roddy Carr, director of Killeen Castle, said: "September is one of the most beautiful months to visit Ireland for golf and especially Killeen Castle and all the Heritage sites surrounding it. We cannot wait to extend a warm traditional Irish welcome to all attending The Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle."

Martin Cullen TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, said: "I look forward with great anticipation to The 2011 Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle, Co Meath. It will be a wonderful sporting occasion and a great honour for Ireland to host one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world. The hosting of The Solheim Cup provides a great opportunity to promote Ireland as a golf destination to a worldwide market, not least to women golfers, and builds on the success of the 2006 Ryder Cup."

The 2011 Solheim Cup will mark the 12th staging of the event, which was started by Karsten and Louise Solheim, founders of PING and Karsten Manufacturing Corporation in 1990. PING has sponsored The Solheim Cup since its inception and is now a Global Partner of The Solheim Cup along with AIB Group and Rolex.