The two last remaining pieces of the Dublin city walls visible above ground can be seen at St Audoen's Church at Cook Street and at Cornmarket nearby.

[9] Among the early residents of the street were the Burnell family and former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Sir James Carroll.

A number of religious orders have historically resided on the street, including Carmelites, Franciscans, and Dominicans.

The Franciscan monastery on Cook Street was destroyed on 26 December 1629 by a group led by Dr Launcelot Bulkeley, the Protestant Archbishop of Dublin.

Posing as tavern patrons, Catholics would give a guard the password "I am going to the Adam and Eve".