The Irish Challenge takes place this week, from August 13-16 at Killeen Castle, with FREE tickets available for all four days in Co. Meath. Whether you’re heading to the course or following from home, here’s everything you need to know…
Back to Killeen
After first visiting the Co. Meath. venue in 2025, the Road to Mallorca returns to the stunning Killeen Castle for the 11th edition of the Irish Challenge. The course is a three-time host of the Ladies Irish Open and also staged the 2011 Solheim Cup, with Team Europe running out winners for the first time in eight years.
The estate, nestled in prime Irish countryside 30 minutes from Dublin, boasts luxury accommodation to go alongside its Jack Nicklaus-designed Championship lay-out. The 2026 edition of the Irish Challenge also marks the midway point of a three-year agreement with the event set to return to Killeen in 12 months’ time.
Tough test
Designed by 18-time Major Champion Jack Nicklaus, Killeen Castle will provide one of the sternest examinations on the 2026 schedule and did so during last year’s edition, with eventual winner Oihan Guillamoundeguy the only man in the field to post four rounds under par.
Nicklaus himself, designer of close to 300 world-class lay-outs, lauds Killeen Castle as one of his proudest designs, with the course rated as one of Ireland’s toughest tests. The 200-yard par three 16th was the hardest hole at last year’s Irish Challenge, producing just 39 birdies compared with 166 bogeys or worse across the week. The closing par four 18th also proved arduous, with 122 bogeys or worse on one of the most decisive holes.
The front nine, however, is where scoring opportunities emerge. The second and seventh, both par fives, played significantly under their par during the 2025 edition, and the par three eighth was also a good chance to make up ground.
Local stars
A host of local talent will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Robert Moran, whose fourth place finish in 2025 saw him take home the Christy O’Connor Jnr Memorial Trophy and gain entry into the Amgen Irish Open on the DP World Tour. Liam Nolan is currently the highest-ranked Irishman on the Road to Mallorca and will be looking to play his way into his national open for the first time. Max Kennedy, also inside the top 50 on the season-long Rankings, is eyeing his third Amgen Irish Open appearance having teed it up in both 2024 and 2025.
No Irishman has tasted victory at the Irish Challenge since its inception in 2015, and the local talent teeing it up this week will be looking to seal the nation’s first HotelPlanner Tour win since Conor Purcell triumphed at the Hangzhou Open two years ago.
Promotion pedigree
The Irish Challenge has been a breeding ground for promotion hopefuls with four of the past five winners going on to earn DP World Tour status the same year. Following a consistent start to the 2025 season, Frenchman Guillamoundeguy catapulted himself into the promotion picture with a three-stroke victory at Killeen Castle. The rising star would register three top tens in the starts following his maiden victory before eventually ending the season fifth on the Rankings.
Swede Joakim Lagergren also triumphed when the event was hosted at The K Club in 2024 before returning to the venue the following year for the Amgen Irish Open on the DP World Tour. Lagergren would famously come up short of his second DP World Tour win after Grand Slam champion Rory McIlroy eagled the 72nd hole before sealing his second Irish Open win in extra holes.
Todd Clements won the Irish Challenge in 2022 on his way to the DP World Tour, following in the footsteps of Daan Huizing, who achieved the feat the year prior. Brandon Robinson Thompson, the 2023 victor, narrowly missed out on promotion but bounced back well the following year, winning the Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A on his way to securing his DP World Tour playing privileges.
Out in force
The Irish Challenge promises to be one of the most well-attended events on the 2026 Road to Mallorca and spectators will be able to enjoy on-site activities in the fan village as well as watching high-quality professional golf up close.
Click here for further information on the weekly schedule, parking and transport, fan village and site map.
