World Art Utopia

The Hungry Tree

The trunk of the Hungry Tree at King’s Inns in Dublin growing over the armrest and seat of an ornate black cast-iron bench
Artwork FileDublin, Ireland

The Hungry Tree

SeenFeb 2018

Tree and bench · Dublin, Ireland

Photo: William Murphy / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0); resized from the SAU archive.

At King’s Inns in Dublin, a London plane grew around part of a cast-iron bench. The tree is known as the Hungry Tree; reporting in 2017 and 2018 discussed its protection within the historic grounds. Source Source Reported

Seen Feb 2018. Evidence date: 2018-02. Dated reporting, not confirmation of present condition. Source Reported

💡 4 things to know

  1. A London planeVisit Dublin identifies the tree as a large London plane on the King’s Inns grounds. Source Reported
  2. The bench is cast ironThe Irish Times describes the tree gradually enveloping a cast-iron bench. Source Reported
  3. Protected with the groundsIn February 2018, TheJournal.ie reported that existing site protections covered the tree and bench. Source Reported
  4. Beside the South GateTheJournal.ie places the tree by the South Gate of King’s Inns. Source Reported

📍 Where it is

King’s Inns, Constitution Hill · Dublin, Ireland Source Reported

Open in Maps

Map pin is approximate; use the named site or address to locate the subject.

🗓️ Sightings

  1. 20144 Mar

    Tree and bench photographed by William Murphy

  2. 201721 Jul

    Protection debate reported

  3. 2018Feb

    Report on existing site protection

Green stamps mark dated photographs; amber stamps mark records or reports; red stamps mark loss. Publication dates are not camera dates.

✅ The facts

Tree species
London plane Source Checked
Object
Cast-iron bench Source Checked
Site
King’s Inns grounds Source Checked
Position
Near the South Gate Source Reported
Protection
Reported in February 2018 as covered by protection for King’s Inns and its grounds Source Reported

🔗 Related

All sources & image credits

Photo: William Murphy / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0); resized from the SAU archive.

Last checked: 26 October 2026 · How we verify art