The Point Depot is located fairly close to my house. It is a big concert arena – an old train depot that served Dublin port that has been modernised into a hi-tech shed which has retained some of its original stone features. I am pretty certain that the aluminium roof did not feature on the original design for the building.

The official name for the Point Depot is the 3 Arena. Prior to this it was called the O2 Arena. Some time during the boom years some bright spark decided to sell the naming rights to the venue and the telecom companies swooped in, gutted it and expanded it while keeping some of the old building’s features The tram stop utside is still called The Point however, and anyone who can remember the fanfare when the Point Depot was reopened as a concert venue in the 1980s probably still calls it by its original name.

I have been to only two concerts there. The first was Cher in 1999, when her career was soaring through its 74th comeback with the ‘Believe’ song. The next time I went to a concert there was a couple of years ago when I witnessed Kylie Minogue live.  Not meaning to engage in stereotypes but my Point concert going history is not as heterosexually male as it could be.  The male contingent at both of those gigs, seemed a touch – how do I put this – theatrical. Fantastic events both of them.

Now that I am living so close, I must keep an eye on the music agenda for the place. It’s a massive venue, and despite appearances I am not averse to be bit of guitar rock, so I’m open to all live music experiences.

In front of the Point is where the Dublin Eye used to stand – this was a Dublin replica of the London Eye. The difference being is that the Irish version was located in Dublin Harbour and while the views were impressive, Dublin is less architecturally iconic than London. It closed after a couple of years.

The Point is located right next door to Dublin port. This port is still very much in operation and ferries depart and arrive daily. The port used to be bigger – or at least it used to be closer to town. It remains the country’s biggest cargo port . The banking buildings on the river’s edge stand where old shipping warehouses used to be. From the Point into town, these warehouses no longer exist.
I knew about the port of course but I have never been in it. As I started work early this morning, I left correspondingly early this afternoon. I had a cunning plan. I was going to have a wander about the port.

Not that I expected to find any surprises – ports exist for practical reasons – the transport of goods and people. The operational machinery of the port is very functional. I was curious however.

Not least because of the passenger ferries to both Liverpool, Wales and possibly other locations.  It would be a good idea to know about this port, if one day perhaps, I decide that I need to flee Dublin and start a brand new anonymous life in exotic and mysterious Fishguard.

Sadly today I made no new discoveries. I am sure there is a pedestrian entrance to the port. I couldn’t find it however – as I was not driving a truck or car, and seeing as there were no footpaths on these routes, I decided to postpone my exploration – partly because it was getting dark.

But be warned Dublin Port – I intend to return.