Parnell Street is located on Dublin's Northside and runs from Capel Street in the west to Gardiner Street and Mountjoy Square in the east. It is at the north end of O'Connell Street, where it provides the south side of Parnell Square.

Originally Parnell Street was part of the ancient road connecting the old city to northern coast, with Father Matthew Bridge connecting Church Street and Wood Quay in the east, to Ballybough and Fairview in the west.

During the 18th century development of Amiens Street and Annesley Bridge provided a new coast road, while Parnell Street and its continuation to the east, Summerhill, became home to Georgian architecture.