J. B. Malone

John B. Malone (1914 – October 17, 1989) was an Irish hill-walking enthusiast who popularised the pastime through his television programmes and books. He was responsible for the establishment of the Wicklow Way as a recognised walking trail, having first proposed it in 1966. ["The Irish Times", "Hiker JB launches guide to doing it his way", March 25, 1988]

Malone served in the Irish army during the Emergency. Later he worked in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs as a draughtsman."The Irish Times", "Death of pioneer of guided walking routes", October 19, 1989]

He started hill-walking in 1931 when he climbed Montpelier Hill to visit the ruins of the Hellfire Club.Malone, "The Complete Wicklow Way", introduction] Later, while on leave during his military career, he developed a detailed knowledge of walking routes throughout the Wicklow hills. Following his retirement from the civil service, he was appointed as a field officer with the Long Distance Walking Routes Committee of Cospóir, the National Sports Council. There, he negotiated rights of way with land-owners to enable his vision of the Wicklow Way to become a reality. ["The Irish Times", "Rights of way disappear through neglect", November 18, 1986]

From 1938 to 1975 Malone contributed a regular column to the "Evening Herald" entitled "Over the Hills".

During the 1960s, Malone presented a television documentary series on RTÉ entitled "Mountain and Meadow", in which, accompanied by a cameraman, he introduced viewers to a variety of hill walks in Wicklow and surrounding counties. In 1980, he presented a one-hour TV programme on the newly-opened Wicklow Way.

Also in 1980, Malone was made an honorary life member of An Óige, the Irish Youth Hostel Association, in recognition of his contribution to promoting the Irish countryside. ["The Irish Times", "An Oige life member", January 29, 1980]

J. B. Malone was married with three children. He died at St. James's Hospital, Dublin at the age of 75. He is buried in Bohernabreena Cemetery, Tallaght.

Publications

*"The Open Road Guide to the Neighbourhood of Dublin for Ramblers, Cyclists & Motorists", Independent Newspapers, 1950
*"Walking in Wicklow: A Guide for Travellers (afoot & awheel) through the Wicklow Mountains", Helicon, 1964
*"Know Your Dublin" (with Liam C. Martin), Sceptre Books, 1968
*"The Complete Wicklow Way", O'Brien Press Ltd., 1988

References

External links

* [http://mywicklowway.com/the_walk.html Account of J. B. Malone's association with the Wicklow Way]