Harrington beat Bradley Dredge in a play-off last year

Padraig Harrington has confirmed that he will defend his Irish Open title at Adare Manor next month.

Harrington won the title at the county Limerick resort last year when he edged out Bradley Dredge in a play-off.

"The Irish Open victory meant more than even I realised at the time. I had been trying for at least ten years," said Open Champion Harrington.

The Dubliner became the first Irishman to win the event since John O'Leary's triumph at Portmarnock in 1982.

Harrington's participation should ensure a good turnout of Irish golf fans in the only European Tour event to be played in Ireland in 2008.

The Adare Manor event, played on 15-18 May, will be his first competitive appearance in his native land since his memorable Open Championship triumph at Carnoustie last July.

"I always found it very difficult to handle the pressure, the distractions and the general hype of an Irish Open," added Harrington.

"Years of that building up, the fact that no Irishman had won it in 25 years, the media hype going into the event and then to actually finally win the tournament was ever so big for me.

Eventually I finally accepted that I wouldn't be able to spend the time practising the week of the tournament Padraig Harrington

"I don't think I would have ever felt as if I had a true career unless I had gone on to win The Irish Open."

Harrington added that he believed his Adare Manor triumph was a "big catalyst" for his victory at Carnoustie.

"I definitely felt more comfortable and I gained self confidence from that win.

"Being able to win under that pressure and distraction, being able to win in front of the home crowd with all their expectation, winning something I so dearly wanted to win, having so many goes at it and finally coming through, all helped with the experience of going into The Open."

Harrington says that the Irish Open is his "fifth biggest tournament" after the four majors.

"For many years I kept trying to treat The Irish Open like it was a normal week and the one thing it isn't is normal.

"Eventually I finally accepted that I wouldn't be able to spend the time practising the week of the tournament, couldn't spend the time on the range or the putting green and couldn't spend the time I would normally in the gym.

"There are a lot of things going on and I have to accept that and run with it that week."