reland have been dealt another injury blow ahead of their tour of New Zealand and Australia after Leinster flanker Kevin McLaughlin became the third player to withdraw from the party on Sunday night.
Coach Declan Kidney had lost Lions captain Paul O'Connell and Ulster hooker Rory Best to groin and ankle injuries respectively on Friday, and McLaughlin now misses out after picking up a knee injury in Leinster's Magners League Grand Final defeat against the Ospreys on Saturday.
Munster's Niall Ronan, who has two caps to his name, has already joined up with the squad in Limerick as they prepare for Friday's encounter with the Barbarians at Thomond Park.
McLaughlin's Leinster team-mate Shane Jennings picked up an ankle injury in the same game, but a scan has revealed the injury is not as serious as first feared and he will join up with the squad on Tuesday.
McLaughlin earned his one and only cap to date in the victory over Italy on the opening weekend of the Six Nations, and his place in the initial 33-man squad was just reward for a breakthrough season at provincial level as his powerful performances in the Magners League and Heineken Cup helped push Leinster into the latter stages of both competitions.
Ronan, who started 15 Magners League fixtures for his province this season, won his previous caps against Canada and the USA on last summer's tour of North America.
Ireland were already without long-term absentees Stephen Ferris, Denis Leamy and Luke Fitzgerald for the trip Down Under.
Following their clash with the Barbarians the Irish will depart to face New Zealand in New Plymouth on June 12 before meeting the New Zealand Maori six days later.
They will round off the trip with a Test against Australia in Brisbane on June 26th.