The Irish language is only spoken by a small number of people in Ireland, even though it is the language of the land. Most people here speak only English or English and another foreign language. There is a small number of people who know the Irish language, and they work hard to preserve or save it.
In Galway, the area of Connemara is known as having the largest number of Irish speakers. An area with many Irish speakers that focuses on teaching and preserving the language is called a Gaeltacht (pronounced Gail-tock). In the area of Connemara, the community maintains traditions that have been passed through generations. The Irish language is one of those traditions, and children learn it as their first language; they then learn English later on.
Another tradition in Connemara is the old style of music, song and dance which is called Sean-nós. This type of music uses instruments like accordions, a traditional Irish drum called a bodhrán, harps and even spoons being played together in a kind of rhythm or beat. When people dance traditionally, they do something like a very quick musical tap dance that is unique to Ireland.
