Paddy Brown will add to his 128 Ireland caps in Wrexham

Banbridge players Gareth Lennox, Eugene Magee and Geoff McCabe have been included as have Instonians pair Paddy Brown and Mark Irwin.

Loughborough-based duo Timmy Cockram and Mark Gleghorne and Annadale's Iain Lewers have also been selected.

The competition takes place in Wrexham from 21/23 July.

Last year Ireland finished in second place just one point behind Scotland.

Ireland coach Dave Passmore and his team will be using the Celtic Cup as part of their continued build up towards the European Championships taking place later this summer.

Ireland's men go into the competition having secured seven wins in a row now and claiming the inaugural Setanta Sports Trophy Title last month.

The Irish will play against France in the Celtic Cup ahead of their European Championship encounter on 22 August.

"It will be good to play against France so close to the Europeans but we know they will give little away at this tournament and we will be tired after the hardest phase of our training. I am keen not to pick up any unwanted injuries at this stage," said Ireland coach Passmore.

Coach Passmore has brought both Ronan Gormley and Gleghorne for the tournament after they missed the Setanta Sports Cup.

Gormley was on study leave while Gleghorne missed the tournament because of injury.

Ireland squad: P Brown (Instonians), K Burns (Cork C of I), S Butler (Glenanne), T Cockram (Loughborough), M Darling (Three Rock Rovers), M Gleghorne (Loughborough), R Gormley (Pembroke Wanderers), D Harte (Cork Harlequins), D Hobbs (Cork C of I), M Irwin (Instonians), J Jermyn (Cork C of I), G Lennon (Banbridge), I Lewers (Annadale), T Lewis (Pembroke Wanderers), E Magee (Banbridge, P Maguire (HGC Holland), G McCabe (Banbridge), G Shaw (Glenanne).

Celtic Cup schedule
Ireland v Scotland (Saturday, 21 July, 1200 BST)
Ireland v France (Sunday, 22 July, 1200)
Ireland v Wales (Monday, 23 July, 1530)