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Manager Brian Kerr, who has to do without the suspended Clinton Morrison said: "He has always been in our thoughts because he is an experienced international player. He had a decent season last year with Leicester, and I have seen him in action for both Leicester and Wigan this season. I have good reports on him because he has made a bright start and he looks like his old self."
Connolly's Wigan team-mate Graham Kavanagh is also in the squad after his recent return to fitness. Ireland face Cyprus and Switzerland in World Cup Group Four qualifying matches on October 8 and 12.
Should they win both those games it is likely that the Irish will earn a playoff place and Kavanagh said: "We're hoping that France go to Switzerland, who are top of the table and do us a favour. We feel we can go to Cyprus and win - we've already beaten them 3-0 at home.
"If we win then we go back to Landsdowne Road to face Switzerland. Then if we beat them we will be back in second place and will be in the playoffs."
Here is the squad in full: Given (Newcastle), Kenny (Sheffield United), Colgan (Barnsley), Cunningham (Birmingham), Breen (Sunderland), O’Brien (Portsmouth), Dunn (Manchester City), Carr (Newcastle), Hart (Levante), S Reid (Blackburn), O’Shea, Miller (both Manchester United), Finnan (Liverpool), A Reid (Tottenham), Holland (Charlton), Kilbane (Everton), Kavanagh, Connolly (both Wigan), Duff (Chelsea), Doherty (Norwich), Elliott (Sunderland), Doyle (Reading), Robbie Keane (Tottenham), Morrison (Crystal Palace).