What is gaeltacht?

Gaeltacht (plural Gaeltachtaí, pronounced [ˌɡeːl̪ˠt̪ˠəxt̪ˠiː]) is a region where the Irish language is the primary spoken language. Gaeltachtaí are officially recognised by the Irish government, which provides them with special status and support in order to preserve the language. There are 26 Gaeltachtaí in Ireland, mostly located in the west and northwest of the country. The largest Gaeltacht is Connemara in County Galway, with a population of over 30,000 people.