The broader region is bounded by Railway lines, the Royal Canal, the River Tolka, the River Liffey and Dublin Port (the Irish Sea), taking in the Dublin Docklands, resulting in a readily identifiable area geographically if somewhat separated from the large city which surrounds it.

On 25 June 1970, the timberyard of James McMahon on East Wall Road caught on fire causing damages amounting to £1 million and two days later, on 27 June, a diesel store warehouse located beside a block of 9 shops on Church Road was set alight with the fire spreading and gutting each shop.

In the economic boom years from the late 1990s onwards, the area developed rapidly, with the notable addition of the International Financial Services Centre (mostly in neighbouring North Wall), and East Point Business Park on reclaimed land extending East Wall to the north.

[citation needed] The area is serviced by shops, St. Joseph's Church, the Sean O'Casey Community Centre, a primary school and recreational facilities (parks, sea and beach) within walking distance.

There is also a former ESB building which is being used as a transitional shelter for refugees since November 2022[update], leading to the East Wall protests.