About Donnybrook Fair

The Donnybrook Fair in Walsh, Ontario is an annual two day event. The fair has been held every year from 1857 until the present, making 2010 the 153rd Fair. This mid-September event involves the children of Walsh Public School, St. Michael's School, and other neighboring schools as well as the home schooled.

Children enter their arts, crafts and locally grown agricultural commodities to compete for prize money and ribbons. Over $1100 was paid to elementary school aged children in 2009.

The fair has grown every year with the help of many volunteers. Fund raising events are held all year to finance the fair. These events include an annual barbecue dance, a Victoria Day brunch, food booths at every Port Dover "Friday the 13th" and numerous raffles. We also own a commercial stage which is rented out to local events.

Throughout the year, the fairgrounds and the Walsh Hall are frequently used for weddings, funerals, and buck and doe events. The name "Donnybrook Fair" comes from an early settler of Walsh, who said the fair reminded him of an annual horse fair in Donnybrook, Dublin.

Demolition Derby

The most popular events at each fair are the demolition derbies. These were sponsored for a long time by the Horsepower Unlimited Car Club from Simcoe but are now sponsored by the Vittoria & St. Williams Fire Department Auxiliaries. 2009 was the 36th consecutive year of the demolition derbies. Additional events are the parade, baby show, school tug-of-war, tractor pull, car show, and entertainment on the stage Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.

Please download the rules and entry forms if you'd like to enter our 2010 Demolition Derby.