The 2017 Irish Open was won on Sunday by Jon Rahm after he stormed home to victory by six shots at Portstewart, Co. Derry.
Four sub-par rounds gave him a tournament total of 24-under par as he claimed his first win on the European Tour.
This year's event can be deemed another success as thousands of fans passed through the gates to watch a highly competitive field battle it out for the $7 million prize fund.
Tournament host Rory McIlroy missed the cut for the fourth time in five attempts at this year's event.
The 2018 Irish Open will be held at Ballyliffin Golf Club in Donegal and Padraig Harrington hopes the carnival atmosphere and big crowds will be replicated in 2018.
"I've never been to Donegal in my life so it'll be a first time," he said, adding: "It'll be interesting to see if we get the crowds. Hopefully we get crowds.
Spain's Jon Rahm celebrates winning the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open with girlfriend Kelley Cahill and the trophy at Portstewart Golf Club. Picture by: Niall Carson/PA Wire/PA Images
"It's tough with the Irish Open, we have to pull out all the stops every year. We can't take it for granted and it should be a bid deal up in Ballyliffen, you know, for the golf course so hopefully it will be what we want in an Irish Open and have that festival, that event feeling to it and not just a golf tournament.
"Looking ahead to the Open at Royal Birkdale in two weeks time he said: I'm in good stead. I know what I'm doing - doesn't make it easy to do for sure but I'm very comfortable where I'm at with my game of golf and general attitude to it and I find I've a good understanding at where I am. It's not as stressful for me at the moment."
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