Silly question... what IS an ‘ir port’

[tschaller53]

Remote suddenly stopped working... after a few years...

 

[USAFRet]

Remote suddenly stopped working... after a few years...

InfraRed.
The part that registers the IR signal from the remote.

Have you changed the batteries in the remote?
Unlikely the port on the TV went bad.

 

[americanaudiophile]

Check that the batteries haven't leaked. That can destroy a remote control. Clean the battery terminals. Replace the batteries with fresh ones.
You can check if the remote is sending IR with your phone.
https://sony-paa-pa-en-web--paa.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/167978/~/how-to-test-if-a-remote-control-is-sending-an-infrared-%28ir%29-signal.
If it is working then the IR receiver and the board it's connected to may be bad.