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Have you heard about the hungry tree in Dublin 7?

It’s been gobbling a bench for the last eighty years.

HAVE YOU HEARD the one about the hungry tree?

Situated on the grounds of King’s Inns is a tree that has been slowly but surely gobbling up an iron bench.

The tree is estimated to be around eighty years old and has grown in a way that makes it appear it is eating the bench.

Like so.

The tree is a London Plane and has become a bit of an attraction in its own right. An urban curiosity, if you will.

A quick flicker through the #hungrytree hashtag on Instagram yields lots of photos of passersby sitting on the bench and likely praying the tree doesn’t consume them, too.

Last year, Irish Times reported that Green Party councillor Ciaran Cuffe proposed a motion calling for the tree and bench to be protected.

Councillors passed the motion and Dublin City Council later confirmed that the tree and bench were covered under existing measures protecting King’s Inns and its grounds.

Fancy seeing this oddity in the flesh?

Simply nip into King’s Inns on Constitution Hill, Dublin 7, and you’ll find it residing by the South Gate. Approach at your own peril.

More: ‘Better BBQ than Hong Kong’: The insider’s guide to finding fantastic Chinese food in Dublin>

More: ‘You’re being transported back’: The Galway pub where the barman knew Samuel Beckett>

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    Mute Hank Schrader
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    Oct 26th 2015, 9:32 PM

    So what happens when I need a P during the night.. I gotta get up, and if I don’t turn on the lights I miss the bowl and get the floor.. Then my wife blames our 7 year old.

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    Mute jenni
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    Oct 26th 2015, 8:46 PM

    turn everything off, turn the digital clock away, you should be in a blackened room with no lights, do not stimulate your brain. Put on headphones and quietly listen to Iron Maiden, as they sooth you to sleep.

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    Mute Gooney
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    Oct 26th 2015, 8:53 PM

    Hahaha very good!

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    Mute Ben Smith
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    Oct 26th 2015, 9:41 PM

    Night was black, was no use holding back
    ‘Cause I just had to see, was someone watching me
    In the mist, dark figures move and twist
    Was all this for real, or just some kind of hell?

    6-6-6… the Number of the Beast!!

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    Mute JohnAbbs
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    Oct 26th 2015, 10:52 PM

    The Number of the Beast album was released on 22 March 1982

    Reduce the Date #27

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Oct 27th 2015, 3:37 AM

    I thought it was 616 now Ben??? lol.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Oct 27th 2015, 3:37 AM

    John the number is now ex-directory lol.

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    Mute Ross Hanlon
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    Oct 26th 2015, 9:35 PM

    Anything in the book about screaming babies? Both the misses and my son are heading home to Poland for a week shortly, first thing on my agenda is spicy Chinese, beer, classic movies and sleep, plenty of it.

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Oct 26th 2015, 9:31 PM

    Post-coital sleeps are unbeatable to be fair.

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    Mute JohnAbbs
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    Oct 26th 2015, 8:44 PM

    Your one on the top image must be working nights,

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    Mute Niall Farrell
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    Oct 26th 2015, 11:41 PM

    Grand so. I’ll just fill the room with lit candles for a good night sleep.
    What could be the harm?

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Oct 26th 2015, 9:22 PM

    she’s right on most of those tips I do them myself except for the 10 pm bedtime , I’d be wide awake by 2 am if I went to bed at that time ! oh and what’s with the choice of music ?

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    Mute Lily
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    Oct 26th 2015, 10:34 PM

    Fantasising about things that happened today… I think not, once I think about work I can’t sleep. Extremely stressful day at work today.

    Think I’ll fantasise about something else, an actual fantasy where I can slip off into dreamy dream land without even realising it.

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    Mute Spud
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    Oct 26th 2015, 10:04 PM

    I find Iron Maiden, or indeed, any kind of heavy metal/rock music to be a great way to fall asleep. It plays through the night, and I’ve never had a problem. :)

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Oct 26th 2015, 10:30 PM

    spud that’s great if it works for you !

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    Mute Babadook
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    Oct 27th 2015, 2:58 PM

    Your body can not catch up on sleep. Fact.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Oct 27th 2015, 3:35 AM
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    Mute Paul Larkin
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    Oct 27th 2015, 6:45 AM

    On the no screens point.
    So if you are using a kindle or kindle app and reading a little bit before you go to sleep is that bad because It’s reading the story that usually helps to go to sleep.

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