Tuckey’s Street, on the east side of South Main Street was first identified as Tuckey’s Lane on John Carthy’s Map of 1726. The map from the Pacata Hibernia (c.1587) depicts two laneways in this part of the city,one of these was probably the forerunner to Tuckey Street. The street is named after Timothy Tuckey, a member of the influential Tuckey family, who owned a considerable amount of property in the area up until the mid 19th century. One member of the Tuckey family held the position of mayor in 1677. Tuckey’s Lane became known as a Street around the 1760s when the Corporation widened the lane to facilitiate merchants’ carts and carriages carrying goods from the quays to the South Main Street. Records show that the Tuckey family held property on the street up to the mid-19th century. A number of significant archaeological excavations have taken place on Tuckey’s Street, which is situated on the southern island of the medieval city of Cork. In 1997 a timber fence, almost 900 years old, was uncovered at no. 17. This timber fence or revetment served as a property boundary throughout the medieval period.

In February 1816 a Gas apparatus was fitted by Mr James O’Brien to light his shop. (Rynne 1999, 246). It was reported in the local newspapers that it drew large crowds every night as the people of Cork came to watch its effects. Mr. O’Brien used gas to light his shop and its associated workshops (Rynne 1999, 246). Engraved with the date 1761, the Tuckey’s Street name plaque actually predates the first official street naming in Cork. The limestone plaque is set in the wall between nos 6 and 7 Tuckey’s Street.