(Dublin, 27 November 2007) -- Killeen Castle, venue of The 2011 Solheim Cup and the Ladies European Tour announced that AIB Group is to become one of four exclusive Global Partners of the largest ladies team golf event in the world.

From left, Colm Doherty, Managing Director, AIB Capital Markets, Roddy Carr, Director, Killeen Castle, and Alexandra Armas, Executive Director, Ladies European Tour at the announcement that AIB Group is a global partner of The 2011 Solheim Cup. Pictures by Brendan Moran.

A seven figure sum has been agreed over five years and the partnership includes Global Partner status for The 2009 and 2011 Solheim Cups and Title Sponsor of a Ladies Irish Open event commencing in 2008. The championship will take place on July 11 – 13 at a venue to be announced.

The joint venture between Killeen Castle and the Ladies European Tour (Twenty Eleven Promotions Ltd.) are delighted that a blue chip sponsor such as AIB Group will be facilitating the growth of ladies golf in Ireland.

At the announcement, Colm Doherty, Managing Director, AIB Capital Markets said: "AIB has been involved in men's professional and amateur golf for over 10 years. We are now delighted to be getting involved in supporting ladies golf and especially with such a high profile event as The Solheim Cup. We look forward to working with Killeen Castle & LET and the 100,000 female golfers nationwide in making the 2011 event another source of National pride."

Alexandra Armas, Executive Director of the Ladies European Tour said: "We warmly welcome a company of the stature of AIB as a Global Partner of The Solheim Cup and Title Sponsor of the Ladies Irish Open. This will be major boost for ladies golf in Ireland and with experienced partners like AIB and PING and Failte Ireland I believe the future of the game is in good hands."

Roddy Carr, Director of Killeen Castle and promoter of the Ladies Irish Open, said : "AIB played a significant role behind the scenes in helping Killeen Castle and Failte Ireland win the 2011 Sollheim Cup for Ireland in a bid involving six other countries. I am now delighted that they will reap the rewards of that support by becoming the only Irish company to become a Global Partner of The Solheim Cup and Title Sponsor of the AIB Ladies Irish Open for the next five years. This commitment by AIB to women's golf represents the most significant promotion by an Irish company for women's sport in Ireland."