The rally ran as an International event from its inception in 1971, with only few exceptions. In 2000 and 2002 it was ran under West International Rally name. For various reasons, the events did not run in 1983, 1987, 2003 and 2018. Galway Rally boasts as the first, ever International Rally run in Ireland, the first round of the European Rally Championship run in Ireland, the first computer-generated result system, the first round of the new Irish Tarmac Rally Championship in, the first female Clerk of the Course, Bridget Brophy, the youngest Clerk of the Course of an any International Rally, Mike Smith.
2020 event
Due to low entries the rally launch on 17 January was cancelled, and there was a risk that the event will not go ahead. On 20 January it was announced that the 2020 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally is going to take place as planned on Sunday 2 February with a repeat of the racing format which made the previous year's event a success. The event, managed by Clerk of the Course Gary Leonard, consisted of 9 stages, totaling. The event was the opening round of the 2020 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, and was run a week earlier than 2019 in order to avoid a clash with the opening British Rally Championship round, the Cambrian Rally. The participant entry fee for the event remained same as last year at €875. The event started with 65 entries, 47 of them reached the finish, with Alastair Fisher as the overall winner. This was the only 2020 championship round that took place before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. On 28 April the Tarmac Rally Organisers' Association announced that the 2020 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship is cancelled.
2019 event
Originally planned as two day event, it was reduced to one day, 10 stage event after a consultation with participants. The rally hosted Round 1 of 2019 ITRC and Round 2 of 2019 ITRC Historic championships. Craig Breen finished first overall, 14.4s ahead of Alastair Fisher.
2018 event
The event was planned to go ahead in February, however, in November 2017 it was announced that the event is being cancelled due lack of "the necessary financial certainty that is required at this time". Event organisers Galway Motor Club also quoted logistical issues as a reason for cancellation. Rising motorsport event insurance costs has also been a contributing factor.
2017 event
The event planning was counteracted by efforts to stop the rally. Some of the local residents claimed that application for road closures was not properly dealt with. There were very strict conditions attached to the road closure license and these mainly relate to insurance issues. After consultation with local politicians and the Galway County Council it was ruled that the organisers have complied with all of the procedures relating to a temporary road closure, and that the event is cleared to go ahead.
2016 event
Couple months after the event a High Court case against the rally organizers was brought up. A 60-year-old retired Garda sergeant claimed that he suffered back pain and depression after an assault by spectators during the Galway Rally in 2009. The High Court awarded €105,000 damages to the claimant. Irish motorsport was hit with yet another increase in premiums later that year, which when passed on to competitors were to reach €800 mark per competitor per event.
