Peter O'Mahony has been named as Ireland captain for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations.
The announcement came as head coach Andy Farrell named a 34-man squad for the tournament, which begins on 2 February against France in Marseille.
The 34-year-old Munster back row, who has 101 Ireland caps, is currently contracted with the IRFU until the end of the summer, and negotiations on a new deal are an "ongoing process", the province said yesterday.
O’Mahony surprisingly stepped down as Munster captain in November.
Farrell said: "To our new captain Peter O'Mahony, he is a born leader and someone who has been an influential figure for Munster and Ireland for many years.
"I am confident that the squad will continue to benefit from his leadership skills, both on and off the field.
"He is thoroughly deserving of this honour, and I know that he will relish working closely with the wider leadership group and squad over the coming campaign. I would like to congratulate him and his family at this special time."
Missing through injury are Mack Hansen, Jimmy O'Brien, Dave Kilcoyne, Ross Byrne and Rob Herring.
Wingers Jordan Larmour of Leinster, Munster’s Calvin Nash and Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale are included.
Eight players from the 34 were not part of Ireland's World Cup squad.
Farrell has also included three uncapped players: Munster forwards Oli Jager and Tom Ahern, and Leinster out-half Sam Prendergast as "training panellists".
Nick Timoney's form with Ulster has been rewarded with a call-up, while Harry Byrne and Ciarán Frawley are in the squad.
The squad will assemble at the IRFU high performance centre in Dublin on Monday to begin preparations for their opening match.
Back row O'Mahony (above), who has captained Ireland on 10 previous occasions, will lead the squad, taking over from Johnny Sexton who called time on his career following last year’s Rugby World Cup.
A travelling party of 37 will go to Portugal next Wednesday for their pre-tournament training camp in Quinta do Lago.
Following a Friday night showdown against France in Round 1, Ireland have back-to-back matches at Aviva Stadium against Italy on Sunday, 11 February (Kick-off 3pm) and Wales on Saturday, 24 February (Kick-off 2.15pm).
Farrell’s side travel to London to face England at Twickenham in Round 4 on Saturday, 10 March (Kick-off 4.45pm), before concluding the Championship against Scotland at Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 16 March (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Farrell (above) added: "The forthcoming Men’s Guinness Six Nations presents an opportunity for us to grow and develop.
"The Six Nations is one of the biggest stages in world rugby and this year’s competition will be keenly fought. I am pleased with the quality of performances by the extended group over the last number of weeks and believe that the squad is in good shape.
"I would like to congratulate all those who have been selected, especially those who are at the beginning of their international journeys.
"It doesn’t get much tougher than France away in the opening weekend, but it is a challenge that we will approach in a positive frame of mind."
Ireland Squad – Guinness Men's Six Nations 2024
Forwards (19):
Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University)(15 caps)
Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers)(36)
Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne)(46)
Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere)(41)
Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College)(36)
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf)(72)
Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf)(125)
Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy)(79)
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne)(26)
Jeremy Loughman (Munster/Garryowen)(4)
Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Dublin University)(5)
Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution)(101) (captain)
Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch)(12)
Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD)(59)
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD)(59)
Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne)(21)
Tom Stewart (Ulster/Ballynahinch)(2)
Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge)(3)
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD)(57)
Backs (15):
Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians)(52)
Harry Byrne (Leinster/UCD)(2)
Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon)(13)
Jack Crowley (Munster/Cork Constitution)(9)
Ciaran Frawley (Leinster/UCD)(1)
Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(30)
Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers)
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD)(36)
Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College)(30)
James Lowe (Leinster)(26)
Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor)(15)
Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen)(112)
Calvin Nash (Munster/Young Munster)(1)
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD)(57)
Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan)(37)
Training Panellists:
Oli Jager (Munster)*
Thomas Ahern (Shannon/Munster)*
Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
*uncapped
2024 Six Nations fixtures
Round 1
Friday 2 February – France v Ireland, 8pm
Saturday 3 February – Italy v England, 2.15pm
Saturday 3 February – Wales v Scotland, 4.45pm
Round 2
Saturday 10 February – Scotland v France, 2.15pm
Saturday 10 February – England v Wales, 4.45pm
Sunday 11 February – Ireland v Italy, 3pm
Round 3
Saturday 24 February – Ireland v Wales, 2.15pm
Saturday 24 February – Scotland v England, 4.45pm
Sunday 25 February – France v Italy, 3pm
Round 4
Saturday 9 March – Italy v Scotland, 2.15pm
Saturday 9 March – England v Ireland, 4.45pm
Sunday 10 March – Wales v France, 3pm
Round 5
Saturday 16 March – Wales v Italy, 2.15pm
Saturday 16 March – Ireland v Scotland, 4.45pm
Saturday 16 March - France v England, 8pm
