The Gaeltacht, also called An Ghaeltacht, refers to any of the regions in Ireland where the Irish language is the major language, i.e. the vernacular. These regions were first officially recognised during the years of Irish Free State after the Gaelic Revival as part of government policy to restore the Irish language as the official language of Ireland.
The current population of the Gaeltacht regions is approximately 85,000 with major concentrations of speakers in the western counties of Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry, and Cork. There are smaller concentrations in the counties of Waterford in the south and Meath in the east.
The Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, under the leadership of the Minister for Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, is responsible for the overall Irish Government policy with respect to the Gaeltacht, and supervises the work of the Údarás na Gaeltachta and other bodies. Raidió na Gaeltachta is the RTÉ radio station targeted at the Gaeltachtaí and Irish language generally. TG4 is the television station which is focused on promoting the Irish language and is based in the County Galway Gaeltacht.
