The 'hole-in-the-wall' celebrates 50 years of instant cash

Within easy reach and open all hours, Robert Hume pays tribute to the automated telling machine (ATM), or ‘hole-in-the-wall’, which celebrates its 50th birthday today.

According to the ATM Industry Association, there are now 3m cash dispensing machines around the world — even drive-thru ATMs — with a further 280 being installed each day.

At the last count, Ireland had 3,265 machines. Cork city alone has 37.