A look at the 23 plyers picked by Giovanni Trapattoni for this summer's European Championships.
GOALKEEPERS
Shay Given (Aston Villa) Born: 20.4.76 Caps: 121.
Ireland's most-capped player, the Donegalman made his debut against Russia in 1996 and has been ever-present in the national side since then, playing in the 2002 World Cup and winning his 100th cap against Montenegro in 2009.
Keiren Westwood (Sunderland) Born: 23.10.84 Caps: 8.
Made his competitive debut against Macedonia in a Euro 2012 qualifier in March 2011, in place of the injured Given. He came close to leaving football altogether after being released by Manchester City in 2004 but instead signed for Carlisle United, where a run of 131 games earned him a move to Coventry City.
David Forde (Millwall) Born: 20.12.79 Caps: 2.
The former Galway United and Derry City was picked up by Cardiff and, in 2008, moved to Millwall, where he has enjoyed considerable success, earning promotion to the Championship. Made his international debut against Northern Ireland in the 2011 Carling Nations Cup in Dublin.
DEFENDERS
John O'Shea (Sunderland) Born: 3.4.81 Caps: 75 Goals: 1
Won five Premier League titles as well as the Champions League during during his 12 years at Manchester United, playeing in every position, including goalkeeper. Signed for Sunderland in July 2011. His first international appearance, against Croatia in 2001, ended badly when he came on as an 84th-minute substitute and conceded a penalty that allowed Croatia to equalise.
Richard Dunne (Aston Villa) Born: 21.9.79 Caps: 71 Goals: 8
Trapattoni's talisman, Dunne's return to fitness after a collarbone injury will be key to Ireland's performances this summer. His heroic performance in the scoreless draw away to Russia paved the way for qualification.
Stephen Kelly (Fulham) Born: 6.9.83 Caps: 29: Goals: 0
Another versatile defender who can cover in the centre, Dublin-born Kelly represented Ireland at the 2003 World Youth Championships. Made his senior debut in 2006 while playing for Birmingham City. Captained his country for the first time in a friendly against Uruguay in March 2011.
Seán St Ledger (Leicester City) Born: 28.12.84 Caps: 25 Goals: 2
A particular favourite of Trapattoni, St Ledger has struggled with his form at Leicester City but has proved solid at international level. Scored a diving header against Italy to secure a place for Ireland in the play-offs for the 2010 World Cup against France. Likely to be paired with Dunne in central defence if both are fit.
Stephen Ward (Wolverhampton Wanderers) Born: 20.8.85 Caps: 10 Goals: 2
Has become first-choice left back for Ireland after starting out as a striker for Bohemians. A move to left midfield followed at Wolves before he converted to left back in 2008. Called up to the Irish squad in 2011, he made a goal-scoring debut against Northern Ireland in the Carling Nations Cup.
Darren O'Dea (Leeds United) Born: 4.2.87 Caps: 13 Goals: 0
O'Dea can play at left back or in the centre of defence. Having appeared in the Champions League group stages for the Scottish club, he hit a rocky patch and went on loan to Reading, Ipswich and Leeds in search of first-team football. Made his Ireland debut in September 2009 in a friendly against South Africa.
Kevin Foley (Wolverhampton Wanderers) Born 1.11.84 Caps: 8
A regular in Trapattoni's squads due to his ability to cover in both defence and midfield, Foley made just one start in the qualifying campaign, playing right back in a makeshift back four in the home game against Macedonia in May 2011. Made 11 starts for Wolves this season and five appearances off the bench.
MIDFIELDERS
Damien Duff (Fulham) Born 2.3.79 Caps: 95 Goals: 8
Closing in on 100 caps, Duff will play in his second major championship 10 years on from his impressive showing at the World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Has scored six goals for Fulham this season as they chase their highest ever Premier League finish.
Glenn Whelan (Stoke City) Born 13.1.84 Caps: 37 Goals: 2
Another Trapattoni favourite, Whelan and Keith Andrews have nailed down the starting berths in central midfield under the Italian. Made his senior debut against Serbia in 2008.
Keith Andrews (West Bromwich Albion) Born 13.9.80 Caps 27 Goals: 3
A latecomer to international football, Andrews made his debut against Poland in a friendly in Dublin in 2008 and has been almost ever-present alongside Whelan in Ireland's midfield when fit.
Keith Fahey (Birmingham City) Born: 15.1.83 Caps: 15 Goals: 3
The former St Patrick's Athletic player and one-time Arsenal trainee, Fahey finally made his Premier League debut with Birmingham City in 2009 at the age of 26. The winger made his international debut a year later in a friendly against Paraguay and scored in his first competitive start in Ireland's Euro 2012 1-0 qualifying win over Armenia.
Darron Gibson (Everton) Born: 25.10.87 Caps: 17 Goals: 1
Spent seven seasons at Manchester United but failed to make a breakthrough before moving to Everton in January. Has remained behind Whelan and Andrews in the midfield pecking order during Trapattoni's reign, but has impressed since his move to Everton in the transfer window.
Aiden McGeady (Spartak Moscow) Born 4.4.86 Caps: 47 Goals: 2
A slow starter internationally, McGeady wore the green jersey for the first time in 2004 but had to wait seven years for his first goal, against Macedonia. His rift with Spartak Moscow coach Oleg Romantsov is over and he started the 3-2 win away to champions Zenit on Sunday.
Stephen Hunt (Wolverhampton Wanderers) Born: 1.8.81 Caps: 38 Goals: 1
A constant in Irish squads since 2007, Hunt has been somewhat typecast as an impact substitute. Has returned from injury and played 90 minutes in Wolves' 0-0 draw with Everton on Sunday.
James McClean (Sunderland) Born: 22.4.89 Caps: 1 Goals: 0
Signed from Derry City, McClean was picked for Sunderland for the first time in manager Martin O'Neill's first game in charge and has been instrumental in the side's resurgence this season. Initially ignored by Trapattoni when he picked his squad for a friendly against Czech Republic in February, McClean became a late addition and made his international bow to a standing ovation at the Aviva Stadium.
FORWARDS
Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy) Born: 8.7.90 Caps: 114 Goals: 53
Tied for 16th in the list of top international goalscorers of all time, Keane has averaged almost a goal every two games since making his international debut at the age of 17 and became the country's highest ever goalscorer almost eight years ago.
Kevin Doyle (Wolverhampton Wanderers) Born: 18.9.83 Caps: 46 Goals: 10
Has had a difficult season at club level, scoring just four goals as Wolves were relegated. Will look forward to a change of luck this summer, with Trapattoni a big fan of the striker's work rate in leading the line.
Shane Long (West Bromwich Albion) Born: 22.1.87 Caps: 24 Goals: 6
Part of the same deal in which Doyle moved to Reading from Cork City, Long had to bide his time a little longer at the English side but impressed sufficiently over subsequent seasons to earn a multi-million-pound move to West Bromwich Albion this season. A talented hurler in his youth, Long has scored six times since playing for Ireland for the first time in 2007.
Simon Cox (West Bromwich Albion) Born: 28.4.87 Caps: 11 Goals 3
Another striker who spent his formative years at Reading, Cox got his first taste of first-team football at lower league Swindon Town before moving to West Bromwich Albion in 2009. Possessing the kind of dogged determination Trapattoni adores, Cox has had plenty of game time under the Italian despite starting only a few games in the Premier League this season.
Jonathan Walters (Stoke City) Born: 20.9.83 Caps: 5 Goals: 1
Walters was dropped from Ireland's squad last August after opting out of the May series of friendlies but made the most when given a second chance, scoring his first international goal in the Euro 2012 playoff win over Estonia. The much-travelled, rangy forward, who can also play on the right wing, settled down at Stoke City in 2010 and has been an important part of their Premier League consolidation since.
