On 18th century maps of Dublin, this street is named Elephant Lane. McCready attributes this to a corruption of Mellifont Lane, Menagerie Lane, or due to the presence of a tavern on the street with a sign featuring an elephant. According to the 1850 New City Pictorial Directory, besides four vacant buildings, Elephant Lane's occupants included, a plumber, locksmith, job coach establishment, an ivory turner, two booksellers and two vintners. The street was later known as Tyrone Place from 1870 due to it leading to Tyrone House, and was renamed Cathedral Street in 1900.
