Donnybrook Fair

The Donnybrook Fair, also known as the Walsh Fair is an annual 2 day event in the community of Walsh in Norfolk County, Canada. The fair has been held every year from 1857 until the present, making 2007 the 150th Fair. This mid-September event involves the children of Walsh Public School and entering projects and many agricultural commodities, grown locally, for prize money and ribbons. Over $1200 was paid to the elementary children in 2006.

The fair has grown every year with the help of many volunteers. Fundraising events are held all year to finance the Fair. These events include an annual barbequeue dance, a Victoria Day brunch, food booths at every "Friday the 13th" event in Port Dover, and numerous raffles. The most popular event at each fair is the Demolition Derby. 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. 2007 is the 34th consecutive year of Demolition Derbys.

Throughout the year, the fairgrounds & the Community Centre 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.
 
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