Reilly included for 6 Nations

Summerhill's Marie Louise Reilly has been included in Tom Tierney's Ireland squad ahead of the start of the RBS 6 Nations Championship which will begin in Glasgow on Friday 3rd February. However there is no room for Navan's Jackie Shiels amongst the 30-strong panel.

Props Ilse van Staden and Ciara O'Connor will be hoping to win their first Ireland caps, as will backs, scrum-half Ailsa Hughes, out-half Jemma Jackson and wing Eimear Considine.

Niamh Briggs will again captain the side for this year's championship.

Ireland will play Scotland in their first game of their campaign at the Broadwood Stadium in Glasgow. They will then travel to L'Aquila to face Italy on Sunday 12th February.

Their first home game will be against France in Donnybrook on Sunday 26th February, before facing Wales at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday 11th March – the morning after Ireland men’s side play Wales at the Principality Stadium.

Ireland will finish their championship at home against England on 17th March, in what will be a double header in Donnybrook on St Patrick's Day, as the Ireland Under-20s will play their English counterparts before the women's game.

All of Ireland's games will be broadcast live on RTÉ.

“It's set to be a busy and exciting year for this team, and it all gets underway next Friday against Scotland,' said Tierney.

“While we had some tough games in November, the experience the players gained in those matches will stand to them as we head into the Six Nations Championship.

“There is a good blend of youth and experience in the squad, and having had weekly camps since Christmas, we've been working hard getting our structures in place and making sure everyone knows their job.

“The fact that all of our games will be broadcast this season adds an additional element of excitement to the campaign so everyone is looking forward to it all getting underway.”

Ireland Women's 2017 Six Nations squad:

Forwards:

Elaine Anthony (Munster)
Anna Caplice (Munster)
Ciara Cooney (Leinster)
Ailis Egan (Leinster)
Paula Fitzpatrick (Leinster)
Orla Fitzsimons (Leinster)
Nichola Fryday (Connacht)
Ciara Griffin (Munster)
Leah Lyons (Munster)
Claire Molloy (Connacht)
Cliodhna Moloney (Leinster)
Heather O'Brien (Munster)
Ciara O'Connor (Connacht)
Ruth O'Reilly (Connacht)
Lindsay Peat (Leinster)
Marie-Louise Reilly (Leinster)
Ilse van Staden (Ulster)

Backs:

Niamh Briggs (Munster) Captain
Eimear Considine (Munster)
Mairead Coyne (Connacht)
Aine Donnelly (Leinster)
Mary Healy (Connacht)
Ailsa Hughes (Leinster)
Jemma Jackson (Ulster)
Niamh Kavanagh (Munster)
Claire McLaughlin (Ulster)
Alison Miller (Connacht)
Jenny Murphy (Leinster)
Sene Naoupu (Ayslesford Bulls)
Nora Stapleton (Leinster)