During the autumn internationals and the Six Nations, O'Mahony made himself a mainstay of the Ireland back row and has showed his leadership skills by leading Munster on a number of occasions despite his tender years.
And with hooker Rory Best now called up to the British & Irish Lions squad, O'Mahony has been given the role and will be Ireland's youngest captain since Brian O'Driscoll led the men in green on their tour of Australia in 2002.
Meanwhile, Best, who was a gallant loser for Ulster in the RaboDirect PRO12 Grand Final defeat to expressed his delight at receiving his Lions call-up, having originally been left out of the touring party.
"It was hard when I didn't make the initial squad because it is everyone's ambition to play for the Lions, but to be selected now is a massive honour," said Best.
"To be finally selected makes playing professional rugby worthwhile and makes up for the feeling I had a few weeks ago when I thought the chance had gone."
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