Ireland will miss having the world's largest off-track motorsport event visiting in 2025, 2026 and 2027 as deadlines for funding pass.

The governing body for motorsport in the country, Motorsport Ireland, has abandoned its bid to bring the most famous rally event to Ireland again.

The event would have seen Waterford, Limerick and Kerry hosting stages of the international race event, bringing international tourists into the south east and south west of Ireland.

It looks as if despite Ireland's long association with motorsport and rallying that racing will be limited to national and local events such as the Galway International Rally.

This orange gate in rural County Waterford will now have to do with only local racers, of which there are plenty, passing by on the scenic county's back roads.

A shame, as the county was home to one of Ireland's most famous drivers - Craig Breen, who died during the Croatia WRC rally in 2023.

Keith Cronin of Cork took victory in the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship opener in Galway on the 3rd and 4th of February 2024 as the Galway International Rally, Ireland's oldest, took place east of Lough Corrib.

The two day event on twisty, bumpy and jumpy roads took place around Headford, north of Galway City and saw Keith Cronin take top spot in his Ford Fiesta after recording fastest times on seven of the event's thirteen stages sponsored by Corrib Oil.

Panoramic Ireland was there to photograph the competitors, see our gallery below.