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 September 22-23, 2012 the 155th 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. $1346.00 was paid to elementary school aged children in 2011.

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 (March 31st,2012), a Victoria Day brunch (May 20th,2012), food booth and numerous raffles. We also own a commercial stage which is rented out to local events. NEW this year is our mobile food booth, built by our volunteers, which will be at Port Dover Fri 13th in April and July

Throughout the year, the fairgrounds and the Walsh Hall are frequently used for weddings, funerals, Country music jamborees, Zumba classes and meetings. 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. 2012 will be 39th consecutive year of the demolition derbies. Additional events are the parade, baby show, school tug-of-war, tractor pull, car show, and kids competitions.

Please download the rules and entry forms if you'd like to enter our 2011 Demolition Derby. 2012 will be available soon

Note: Winner is no longer eligible for the Norfolk County Fair Demolition Derby. Prize money has been increased.