[2][3] In 1920, during the Burning of Cork, large parts of the street were destroyed by British troops.

[4] After the establishment of the Irish Free State, the street was renamed after Oliver Plunkett, a 17th-century martyr and Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh.

The name change was gradual and as late as 1945, business directories still contained a reference to 'Late George's Street'.

[10] While the pedestrianisation of Oliver Plunkett Street was suspended as part of the initial COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in Ireland, this was reversed in May 2020.

[14] By 2021, the hours in which cars were forbidden in the Oliver Plunkett Street area had been extended to 11am to 4am.

[17] Oliver Plunkett Street Lower, however, is open to vehicular traffic.