Opening Hours
- Monday
- 06.30am – 09.30pm
- Tuesday
- 06.30am – 09.30pm
- Wednesday
- 06.30am – 09.30pm
- Thursday
- 06.30am – 09.30pm
- Friday
- 06.30am – 09.30pm
- Saturday
- 06.30am – 09.30pm
- Sunday
- 10.00am – 06.00pm
The Emett Machines are back
Does the Merrion Centre conjure up childhood memories of visiting the ‘Flying Kite’ in the 1960s? 7 of the famous Emett Machines are back where they belong, for a new generation to discover.
Historical working art
Created by cartoonist and inventor Rowland Emett in the 1960s, the machines were designed to help people do things which were impossible to do. Several appeared in the cult hit film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
A Merrion Centre story
Arnold Ziff, founder of Town Centre Securities PLC, who built and still own the Merrion Centre, became close friends with Emett. The “Featherstone-Kite Openwork Basketweave Mark Two Gentleman’s Flying Machine” was on permanent display for years, activated every 30 minutes to entertain audiences.
See them for free
The free exhibition is on the upper balcony level*. While not currently operational, the machines on show include The Humbug Major Sweet Machine, The Little Dragon Carpet Sweeper, The Fairway Birdie, Emett Television/Visivision Machine, The Hot Air Rocking Chair and The Clockwork Lullabye Machine.
*All exhibits on the upper balcony level can be accessed by lift or escalator, but this level has a restricted viewing area for those with restricted mobility. Exhibits may vary subject to space available within the centre, and some may not be operational at certain times due to pending maintenance.