Named after John Pigeon who was appointed caretaker of a blockhouse in 1761 which was built to store tools and materials along the south wall which has been built by the Ballast Office. By 1765, this was known as Pidgeon House. Pigeon and his family also provided refreshments for cross-channel passengers and those on excursions to view the construction of the South Wall. In 1793, the Pigeonhouse Hotel was constructed to provide accommodation for passengers. This building, an imposing cut stone construction still exists. Various uses have been made of the lands around this area with the military having a fort here until 1897. After the departure of the military, the city corporation bought the property and eventually constructed a power station here that opened in 1902. The Pigeonhouse continued to generate electricity until finally passing from Dublin Corporation Lighting Committee into the care of the newly formed Electricity Supply Board in 1929.

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Poolbeg station was commissioned in the late 1960s and began producing electricity in 1971. By then the old Pigeonhouse was on stand by duty and was finally decommissioned and officially closed in 1976.

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View taken from passing boat view