Crossword Genius

Whales raised on the endless beach close to Connecticut too important to touch (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sacrosanct

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'too important to touch' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'whales raised on the endless beach close to connecticut' is the wordplay.
'whales' becomes 'orcas' (orca is a kind of whale).
'raised' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'on' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'the endless beach close' becomes 'san' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'to connecticut' becomes 'ct'.
'orcas' written backwards gives 'sacro'.
'sacro'+'san'+'ct'='SACROSANCT'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sacrosanct that I've seen before include "Co-stars can (anag.)" , "protected" , "Unchallengeable" , "Revered, untouchable" , "Inviolable" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times.
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