THE LIONS LAND ROVERS set off from Carton House yesterday evening and soon crunched up the gravel driveways of three Irish families.

The Hamilton, Doyle and Yates clans welcomed British and Irish Lions players over to theirs for dinner and lively conversation as part of the ‘Host the Pride’ promotion.

Decked out in the chequered shirts that appear to be standard issue [apart from captain Sam Warburton in his official polo top], the Lions, split into groups of two, knocked on doors and presented the host families with some choice bottles of red wine.

The Yates family welcomed Scotland (via New Zealand) winger Sean Maitland and Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny:

‘Hands out of your pockets Mr Maitland’. (©INPHO/Billy Stickland)

The Lyons family, with Ronan Donagher and Keira Coote on hand to help with the washing up, greeted Wales hooker Richie Hibbard and Ireland’s own Conor Murray:

Ronan Donagher, Eugene, Owen, Ann and Emma Lyons, Helen Hamilton and Keira Coote with Hibbard and Murray. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

‘I thought Richie was bringing the opener’. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

The Doyles had their house looking spick-and-span for the visit of Warburton and England prop Mako Vunipola:

Dogs love Captain Sam. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

Beers for Martin Doyle, fruit juice for the Lions, as the host espouses the tasty benefits of Dairygold. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

Martin and Doreen Doyle show the lads the gutters that need clearing. Mako does not look at all keen. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

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