The Galway Rally, or Galway International Rally, is an annual motorsport tarmac rallying event held in Galway, Ireland. Promoted and organised by Galway Motor Club, the rally was first run in 1971.
History The rally has been staged annually as an International event from its inception in 1971, being the first international rally run in Ireland. From 1975 to 1982, the Galway International Rally was included as a stage of the European Rally Championship, while in 1978 the rally hosted the opening stage of the first Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. The rally introduced the first computer-generated result system (1975), saw the first female Clerk of the Course, Bridget Brophy (in 1982), and introduced the youngest Clerk of the Course of an any International Rally, Mike Smith (in 1988).
For various reasons, the events did not run in 1983, 1987, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2018 and 2022.
Roll of honour Year Full Event Name Overall winner Co-driver Car 2024 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Keith Cronin Mikie Galvin Ford Fiesta Rally2 2023 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Meirion Evans Jonathan Jackson Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 2022 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Josh Moffett Andy Hayes Hyundai i20 R5 2021 No event (COVID-19 pandemic) 2020 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Alastair Fisher Gordon Noble Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 2019 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Craig Breen Paul Nagle Ford Fiesta R5 2018 No event (Cancelled) 2017 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Garry Jennings Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza S12B WRC '07 2016 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Garry Jennings Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza S12B WRC '07 2015 Colm Quinn BMW Galway International Rally Donagh Kelly Kevin Flanagan Ford Focus RS WRC '08 2014 Colm Quinn BMW Galway International Rally Declan Boyle Brian Boyle Subaru Impreza S12B WRC '07 2013 Safety Direct Galway International Rally Keith Cronin Marshall Clarke Subaru Impreza S11 WRC '05 2012 Safety Direct Galway International Rally Darren Gass Enda Sherry Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04 2011 Safety Direct Galway International Rally Tim McNulty Paul Kiely Subaru Impreza S12B WRC '07 2010 Safety Direct Galway International Rally Gareth MacHale Brian Murphy Ford Focus RS WRC '06 2009 Galway International Rally Eugene Donnelly Paddy Toner Škoda Fabia WRC 2008 Galway International Rally Mark Higgins Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza S12 WRC '06 2007 First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally Marcus Grönholm Timo Rautiainen Ford Focus RS WRC '06 2006 First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Toyota Corolla WRC 2005 First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Toyota Corolla WRC 2004 First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally Tapio Laukkanen Harri Kaapro Subaru Impreza S7 WRC '01 2003 No event 2002 West International Rally Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Subaru Impreza S4 WRC '98 2001 No event (Cancelled) 2000 No event (Cancelled) 1999 Statoil Galway International Rally Bertie Fisher Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza 555 1998 Statoil Galway International Rally Austin MacHale Brian Murphy Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD 1997 Statoil Galway International Rally Austin MacHale Brian Murphy Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD (ST185) 1996 Statoil Galway International Rally Bertie Fisher Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza 555 1995 Statoil Galway International Rally Frank Meagher Pat Moloughney Ford Escort RS Cosworth 1994 Statoil Galway International Rally Kenny McKinstry Robbie Philpott Subaru Legacy RS 1993 Galway International Rally Austin MacHale Dermot O'Gorman Toyota Celica GT-4 (ST165) 1992 Clarenbridge Crystal Galway International Rally Kenny McKinstry Robbie Philpott Subaru Legacy RS 1991 Skoda Sport Galway International Rally Austin MacHale Dermot O'Gorman BMW M3 1990 Lydon House Bakery Galway International Rally Austin MacHale Ronan McNamee BMW M3 1989 Lydon House Bakery Galway International Rally Mark Lovell Ronan Morgan Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 1988 Lydon House Galway International Rally Mark Lovell Roger Freeman Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 1987 No event 1986 Clarenbridge Crystal Galway International Rally Billy Coleman Ronan Morgan Porsche 911 SC RS 1985 Galway International Rally Austin MacHale Christy Farrell Opel Manta 400 1984 Agip Galway International Rally Brendan Fagan Ronan McNamee Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HSR 1983 No event 1982 BP Galway International Rally Jimmy McRae Ian Grindrod Opel Ascona 400 1981 Galway International Rally Ger Buckley Mr Murphy Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HSR 1980 Galway International Rally Jimmy McRae Frank Main Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS 1979 Galway International Rally Billy Coleman Frank O'Donoghue Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII 1978 Galway International Rally John Taylor Phil Short Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII 1977 Galway International Rally Roger Clark Jim Porter Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII 1976 STP Galway International Rally Billy Coleman Jim Porter Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII 1975 STP Galway Rally Dessie McCartney Terry Harryman Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 1974 Galway Rally No data No data 1973 STP Galway Rally Adrian Boyd Beatty Crawford Ford Escort RS 1600 MKI 1972 STP Galway Rally Ronnie McCartney Dessie McCartney Triumph 2.5 Pi 1971 STP Galway International Rally Cathal Curley Austin Frazer Ford Escort Twin Cam
Top drivers with most wins (>1) / most starts (>11). (As of 2022) Driver Most Wins Most Starts Austin MacHale 6 23 Eugene Donnelly 4 12 Billy Coleman 3 12 Mark Lovell 2 2 Jimmy McRae 2 5 Kenny McKinstry 2 10 Bertie Fisher 2 12 Garry Jennings 2 14 Frank Meagher 1 12 Pat Kelly 0 17 Tommy Flanagan 0 14 Eamonn Boland 0 13 David Quigley 0 13 Tom Flaherty 0 13
References
External links Galway International Rally Website Rally Facebook page Galway Motor Club website