A popular hiking destination thanks to its famous boardwalk, but that doesn’t stop people from stumbling over the name. Locals know it as Cool-kah, while missteps like Quil-kag or Kwil-kah are par for the course. It comes from the Irish Binn Chuilceach, meaning “chalky peak”, though it’s the pronunciation, not the path, that trips most people up.placeholder image
A popular hiking destination thanks to its famous boardwalk, but that doesn’t stop people from stumbling over the name. Locals know it as Cool-kah, while missteps like Quil-kag or Kwil-kah are par for the course. It comes from the Irish Binn Chuilceach, meaning “chalky peak”, though it’s the pronunciation, not the path, that trips most people up.

11 of Northern Ireland’s most mispronounced place names and the fascinating stories behind them

By Jonathan Traynor
Published 24th May 2025, 06:00 GMT

Native Northern Ireland folk can derive much amusement at the attempts of tourists to pronounce place names. Given so many derive from Irish, Scots, English and even Viking, it’s no wonder some places can leave people a little tongue-tied.

The name Ahoghill confuses many musicians who play the town’s Diamond Rock Club. Fans chuckle when American musicians loudly shout from the stage that “It’s great to be in A Hog Hill”

Here are just some of the names mangled by visitors (and some locals too). What would you add?

A picturesque location with a tongue-twisting name for many visitors. While locals comfortably say Cull-trah, it’s not unusual to hear tourists ask for directions to Cool-tra or even Cul-tra with a clipped vowel sound. It comes from the Irish Cúl Trá, meaning “back of the strand,” but all too often it ends up sounding like someone talking about trendy temperatures

9. Cultra, Co Down

A picturesque location with a tongue-twisting name for many visitors. While locals comfortably say Cull-trah, it’s not unusual to hear tourists ask for directions to Cool-tra or even Cul-tra with a clipped vowel sound. It comes from the Irish Cúl Trá, meaning “back of the strand,” but all too often it ends up sounding like someone talking about trendy temperatures Photo: Ballintaggart Court Tomb Ulster Folk Museum Cultra - Discover NI

This Belfast area leaves plenty scratching their heads, especially when read aloud. The correct pronunciation is Craig-ah, but you’ll often hear Creg-gah or Cree-gah thrown about. Rooted in the Irish Creagach, meaning “rocky place,” it might take a few attempts before visitors find their footing.

10. Cregagh, Belfast

This Belfast area leaves plenty scratching their heads, especially when read aloud. The correct pronunciation is Craig-ah, but you’ll often hear Creg-gah or Cree-gah thrown about. Rooted in the Irish Creagach, meaning “rocky place,” it might take a few attempts before visitors find their footing. Photo: Google

Now sometimes some Northern Ireland people who don’t live near Bellanaleck struggle to wind their mouth to get their mouth around pronouncing it properly in saying Bell-an-a-leck. From the Irish Béal Átha na Leice, meaning “mouth of the ford of the flagstone”, it’s a name with lyrical roots - but that doesn’t stop it being butchered as Bella-neck or Bell-anal-eck by unsuspecting visitors.

11. Bellanaleck, Co Fermanagh

Now sometimes some Northern Ireland people who don’t live near Bellanaleck struggle to wind their mouth to get their mouth around pronouncing it properly in saying Bell-an-a-leck. From the Irish Béal Átha na Leice, meaning “mouth of the ford of the flagstone”, it’s a name with lyrical roots - but that doesn’t stop it being butchered as Bella-neck or Bell-anal-eck by unsuspecting visitors. Photo: Google

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