 In August 2006 it was announced that Killeen Castle would open in 2009 as a 179-room luxury golf and spa hotel under the Starwood Luxury Collection brand.However, in early 2009, Starwood withdrew from the project after plans were scaled down by developers Snowbury following a downturn in the tourism and leisure industry.On 14 December 2006, after over a year of bidding, Killeen Castle was chosen as the host venue for the 2011 Solheim Cup, the first time Ireland had ever hosted this event, despite the fact that the golf course had yet to be constructed.