Donnybrook Fair
This image was originally published in the The Dublin Penny Journal and appeared in Weston St. John Joyce's book The Neighbourhood of Dublin. It gives us a good impression of what the fair was like. On the left-had side, we can see what appears to be a fight taking place.
Donnybrook Fair
Donnybrook Fair
This image was originally published in the The Dublin Penny Journal and appeared in Weston St. John Joyce's book The Neighbourhood of Dublin. It gives us a good impression of what the fair was like. On the left-had side, we can see what appears to be a fight taking place.
Donnybrook Fair was established by Royal Charter in 1204 by King John. The fair took place on 26 August annually. The days leading up to and after the fair became synonymous with drunkeness, fighting and gambling.
About a week before the fair began, various merchants and dealers descended on Donnybrook Green and pitched their tents and stalls. Even though the fair had been established as an occasion to trade horses, the main trade was in food and drink.
A 'Fair' Fight
This sketch is by a man called Samuel Lover and is featured in Weston St. John Joyce's book The Neighbourhood of Dublin. The sketch depicts a brawl at the infamous Donnybrook Fair. A wide variety of weapons and ammunition are being used by the participants.
A 'Fair' Fight
A 'Fair' Fight
This sketch is by a man called Samuel Lover and is featured in Weston St. John Joyce's book The Neighbourhood of Dublin. The sketch depicts a brawl at the infamous Donnybrook Fair. A wide variety of weapons and ammunition are being used by the participants.
Goods traded at the fair included Dublin Bay herrings, corned beef, bacon and cabbage, and whiskey. Some traders had large pots that contained a variety of foods, such as pigs' and sheeps' feet, potatoes and turnips. Customers paid a penny and were allowed three attempts to fish out whatever they could with a long fork. The fair was very popular and immensely crowded. The sounds of drums, bells, toy trumpets, fiddles, bagpipes and singing all added to the pandemonium.
Fighting was one of the chief characteristics of Donnybrook Fair. Fights often broke out between two people, and soon the onlookers became involved. To this day, the phrase 'Donnybrook Fair' is used to describe scenes of chaos and confusion.
Donnybrook in 1906
A photo of Donnybrook in 1906. It was taken by Weston St. John Joyce and appears in his book The Neighbourhood of Dublin.
Donnybrook in 1906
Donnybrook in 1906
A photo of Donnybrook in 1906. It was taken by Weston St. John Joyce and appears in his book The Neighbourhood of Dublin.
Donnybrook Fair was suppressed by the authorities in 1855. If you look up 'donnybrook' in the dictionary, not only will you find that it is a district of Dublin, it is also a noun. The Oxford English Dictionary defines 'donnybrook' as 'a scene of uproar and disorder'.
There is now a restaurant and shop called 'Donnybrook Fair' in Donnybrook village.