At Hillwalk Tours, we know that the place names of towns in Ireland can be difficult to pronounce. Do you pronounce the ‘G’ in Ballyvaughan? Nope.
And why does ‘Laois’ sound like ‘leash’, and not ‘lah-oh-iss’? Irish place names can be a tongue-twister at the best of times.
We’re sure that you’d like to able to tell your friends back home which towns in Ireland you actually visited during your hike, so we put together a little pronunciation guide.
Towns in Ireland
Tralee – TRAH-lee
Cuas – Coo-Ass
Cloghane – Cloh-HAAN
Adrigole – Ah-dree-goal
Castletownbere – Castle-town-bear
Bere Island – Bear Island
Eyeries – Eye-REES
Lauragh – LOWW-Rah
Clonegal – Clun-ee-GAUL
Tinehely – TEE-na-HEEL-ee
Marlay Park – Mar-LEE Park
Shillelagh – Shill-Lay-Lah
Laragh – Lah-Rah
Killarney – Kill-ARE-nee
Glenbeigh – Glen-Bay
Inis Mór – Inish More
Oughterard – Oocht-err-ard
Maam Valley – Ma’am Vally
Leenane – Lee-NAAN
Drummin – Drum-IN
Cushendall – Cushion-Dawl
Orra Beg – Or-a-beg
Bantry – Ban-tree
Kilcrohane – Kill-crow-haan
Durrus – Durr-ass
Lahinch – LAH-hinch
Doolin – Doo-lin
Fanore – FAH-nor
Ballyvaughan – Bally-VAWN
Carran – Karen
Corofin – Coh-RO-fin
We hope that you enjoyed this guide to Towns in Ireland: A Hillwalk Pronunciation Guide. If you’re interested in taking an Ireland hiking tour, we have the biggest range of itineraries available.
