Dear Santa,

DUBLIN football legend Jimmy Keaveney claims Kerry people were arrogant about their team’s chances of winning last September’s All-Ireland final.

A sense of isolation was felt keenly by the Irish diaspora in the USA in the late 1800s whose sole means of communication was the letter home. Dan Buckley dips in to some of them

JOHN HAYES spent much of his rugby career avoiding the limelight.

ON Sunday morning, many of us will be woken by electronic bleeps and whirrs as new computer-powered gadgets and toys are plugged in, charged up and used for the first time.

HORSE Sport Ireland (HSI) has had to defer the introduction of its anti-doping and medication regime, which was due to come into force on January 1.

IRELAND referee Alain Rolland can expect a red-hot reception when he takes charge of the Heineken Cup clash between Scarlets and Northampton Saints next month.

GAVIN HENSON hopes his Cardiff Blues debut at home to the Dragons tonight will eventually lead to a new contract.

IRELAND coach Philip Doyle has named a 31 strong squad for the RBS Women’s 6 Nations Championship.

JAMES HORAN is asking his Mayo players to invite pressure on themselves — just as New Zealand did when they claimed the World Cup.

REPUBLIC of Ireland goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly has joined the management team at Preston North End.

GRAEME MCDOWELL waved farewell to 2011 last night with a sigh of relief having failed to meet expectations after his stellar 2010 campaign when he claimed the US Open and gave an important contribution to Europe’s Ryder Cup defeat of the United States.

ALL BLACKS full-back Israel Dagg has expressed his sympathy for disgraced England centre Mike Tindall and believes he could have been the one taking all the flak had New Zealand not won the World Cup.

CHRIS PATERSON will now reflect on a record-filled Scotland career after yesterday announcing his retirement from international rugby.

THE IRFU yesterday announced plans to limit the number of foreign rugby players at Munster, Leinster and Ulster.

NIGEL OWENS is once again embroiled in a social networking debate, after Ospreys boss Scott Johnson claimed it was “lunacy” that the international referee was allowed use Twitter.

The recession has swollen the numbers of homeless in our cities. Sue Leonard talks to those who offer help and support throughout the year

SHOWJUMPER Dermott Lennon yesterday hailed his “absolutely amazing” mount Loughview Lou Lou after she carried him to victory in the grand prix at London’s Olympia.

JOHN HAYES will play his finalmatch for Munster in Monday’s RaboDirect Pro12 game against Connacht at Thomond Park on St Stephen’s Day.

LIVERPOOL look certain to challenge the eight-match ban given to Luis Suarez after the striker was last night found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra.