Nick Faldo made some changes to Ballyliffin's Old Links

The European Seniors Tour event will be played at the club's Old Links which was recently renovated by Nick Faldo.

It's the second time that the PGA European Tour Group has staged an event at Ballyliffin as the North West of Ireland Open was played there in 2002.

European Seniors Tour managing director Andy Stubbs described Ballyliffin as "one of Ireland's greatest links".

"The Irish Seniors Open has always been one of the most popular events on our schedule and we are excited about next year's event," said Stubbs on Tuesday.

It will be the first time the Irish Seniors Open has been hosted by a links course in its 12-year history.

The 36-hole Ballyliffin complex on the Inishowen peninsula also contains the Glashedy course which hosted the 2002 North West of Ireland Open, co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the European Challenge Tour.

Irish Sports Minister Seamus Brennan said next year's event would be "a great opportunity for us to showcase Ireland as a world-class golf and holiday destination".

The event will be supported by Failte Ireland while AIB will be associate sponsors.

Ballyliffin's general manager John Farren said that the club's 1400 members would be "delighted to welcome the European Seniors Tour".

"The staging of the prestigious Irish Seniors Open on The Old Links is testament to the significant investment by the club in recent years in the original Ballyliffin Links which has been substantially improved by Faldo Design," he added.

Former Ryder Cup player Costantino Rocca of Italy won this year's event at Palmerstown House near Dublin.