School: St Peter's, Phibsboro

Location:
Phibsborough, Co. Dublin
Teacher:
Ss. Breathnach
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0799, Page 221

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0799, Page 221

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  1. XML School: St Peter's, Phibsboro
  2. XML Page 221
  3. XML “The Hungry Spot”

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  1. Stories in the Broomfield district have been recounted of men who when travelling across fields at night were seized with a sudden fit of weakness. This was said to be due to their treading upon the "Hungry Spot". The "Hungry Spot" was supposed to be the place under which the body of an unbaptized child lay buried. Observers of this belief were known to carry a piece of oaten bread in their pocket at night particularly when their journey took them across fields. The weakness that overtook the traveller who tread upon the eerie spot assumed the form of a ravenous weakening hunger which would immediately disappear after partaking of a small portion of bread.
    Other beliefs are also traditionally associated with the unknown graves of unbaptized children. Stories have been told about men who having entered a certain field at night wer unable to find their way out again. Everytime they thought they were approaching say side A of the field they would find themselves at side B and vice versa. They had thus perforce to walk around until daybreak appeared. This phenomenom was due, it is said, to the traveller's treading on the spot where an unbaptized infant lay buried. However there was a
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    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. agents (~1)
      1. supernatural and legendary beings (~14,864)
    Language
    English