The third letter from O'Donovan is written from Portarlington three days before Christmas of 1837 and describes Clonsast recalling that a pattern was held there in the days before the Fr. Mathew's temperance campaign .

ORDNANCE SURVEY LETTERS KING'S COUNTY

[ Letter no. 3 from John O'Donovan ]

Portarlington,
December 22nd 1837.

Dear Sir,

We have discovered the establishment of an early Saint, of whose history I remember nothing. It is called Clonsast and lies about five miles to the ------ of Portarlington, in a beautiful cluain which is surrounded by a part of the Bog of Allen. The Irish name is Cluain Sosta (Sasta) and the Patron is vividly remembered to be St. Brachan (Brochan?) (perhaps a contradiction for Berachan) whose memory was annually celebrated with great devotion at his well called Tobar-Brachain on the third of December.

The old Church is small and unquestionably of the primitive age, as appears from the large size of the stones and character of the masonry, but all the doors and windows are unfortunately destroyed. The Churchyard presents all the appearance of its having been deserted at an early period, and no grave, tombstone or inscription of ancient or modern date are to be seen, at least overground, nor is there any thing to attract the notice of the antiquarian but the primitive appearance of the featureless walls and the melancholy beauty of the spot - secessus quietis.

To the southeast of the old Church about twenty perches and separated from the hard spot by a brook, now swollen to a rapid flood, there is a remarkable stone in which the Saint is said to have stamped the impression of his head and which was resorted to for the purpose of procuring relief from the headache. Near the stone grows a small hoary thorn, evidently of great age and close to the thorn is a small carn of stones.

These three objects are on a small hillock which is now insulated by so deep a current that I could not visit them though I made every effort for two reasons viz., to get rid of a headache and to view some hieroglyphics said to be indented in the stone, but the day was too cold to strip.

St. Brachan's Well lies in the Townland of Clonshannon, about sixty perches to the northwest? of his Church. It was a large and vigorous spring until fifteen years ago, when drains were sunk in the bog near it which have weakened its vigour and left its waters quite muddy and black. It is, nevertheless, never seen dry and is still visited by a few pilgrims, who have left some devoted rags on the bushes that grow over it.

Until a very late period a numerous Pattern was held on the field adjoining this well and Church on St. John's Day and on St. Peter and St. Paul's, but in consequence of the bad effect of whiskey, the Clergy have thought proper to abolish it.

This Parish was, according to tradition, anciently called Farmann Brachain, which is evidently a corruption of Termon Brachan. I find mention made of a Church called Cluain Sosta in the Calendar of Donegal but it cannot be this as it is stated to lie in the County of Kildare and to belong to a Saint Kieran.

30 April, Ciaran Chluanna Sosta a gContae Cille Dara.

Is there any mention of St. Brachan of Cluain Sosta in Tuath Muighe in Uibh Failghe at the 3rd of December?

I have made every exertion to ascertain the limits of Clanmaliere and Tuath Muighe and you will find that I have succeeded. I was principally guided by the old Map of Leix and Ophaly and by the situation of the castles and seats of the O'Dempseys. I think that I shall be now able to ascertain the exact situation of the famous Wood of Fiodh Gaibhle in Leinster, which has puzzled me these seven years.

Os Magh Aoife na learg dte
O'Murchain taoisioch tuaithe
An Fear im Fidh Gaibhle glas
Ar cion gar daingne duthchas! - O'Heerin.

Super Campum Aoifae agrorum callido
O'Murchan est dominus cantra,
Vir circa Sylvam Gaivle viridem
Cantra praedatores quae patria est magis munita?

I am invited to spend Christmas Day on the frontiers of Clanmaliere and have made up my mind to go, that I may have a confab with old Laurence Byrne, the Ultinus Hibernorum, in the Territory of Leix.

Your obedient servant,
John O'Donovan.