J. B. Malone
Encyclopedia
John James Bernard Malone (December 13, 1913 – 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.
, England, to James Bernard Malone and his wife, Agnes (née Kenny), both from Dublin. He was raised mainly in England and completed his secondary education at the Marist Brothers
College, Grove Ferry, Kent
.
in 1940. There he became a cartographer in the intelligence section. In 1947, having left the army, he went to work at the Department of Posts and Telegraphs as a draughtsman. He remained in the civil service
until his retirement in 1979.
, Dublin at the age of 75. He is buried in Bohernabreena Cemetery, Tallaght
.
. 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. Malone first proposed a guided walking route through the Wicklow hills in 1966, although he had first raised the idea as early as 1942.
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.
Following his death, Malone's contribution to hill-walking in Ireland was marked by the erection of a stone plaque in his honour on a section of the Wicklow Way overlooking Lough Tay
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
hill-walking enthusiast who popularised the pastime through his television programmes and books. He was responsible for the establishment of the Wicklow Way
Wicklow Way
The Wicklow Way is a long-distance trail that crosses the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. It runs from Marlay Park in the southern suburbs of Dublin through County Wicklow and ends in the village of Clonegal in County Carlow. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the Irish Sports...
as a recognised walking trail, having first proposed it in 1966.
Early years
Malone was born in LeedsLeeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, England, to James Bernard Malone and his wife, Agnes (née Kenny), both from Dublin. He was raised mainly in England and completed his secondary education at the Marist Brothers
Marist Brothers
The Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary, are a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The order was founded in France, at La Valla-en-Gier near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary...
College, Grove Ferry, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
.
Working life
Malone moved to Ireland in 1931. He found employment in a builders’ providers firm and an insurance company before joining the Irish ArmyIrish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
in 1940. There he became a cartographer in the intelligence section. In 1947, having left the army, he went to work at the Department of Posts and Telegraphs as a draughtsman. He remained in the civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
until his retirement in 1979.
Personal life
Malone married Margaret Garry in 1947 and they had three children. He died at St. James's HospitalSt. James's Hospital
St. James's Hospital , also known as SJH, is the largest university teaching hospital in Dublin, Ireland. Its academic partner is the University of Dublin...
, Dublin at the age of 75. He is buried in Bohernabreena Cemetery, Tallaght
Tallaght
Tallaght is the largest town, and county town, of South Dublin County, Ireland. The village area, dating from at least the 17th century, held one of the earliest settlements known in the southern part of the island, and one of medieval Ireland's more important monastic centres.Up to the 1960s...
.
Hill-walking
Malone started hill-walking in 1931 when he climbed Montpelier Hill to visit the ruins of the Hellfire ClubHellfire Club, Dublin
Montpelier Hill is a hill, high in County Dublin, Ireland. It is commonly referred to as the Hell Fire Club , the popular name given to the ruined building at the summit. This building – a hunting lodge built around 1725 by William Conolly – was originally called Mount Pelier and since its...
. Later, while on leave during his military career, he developed a detailed knowledge of walking routes throughout the Wicklow
Wicklow
Wicklow) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. Located south of Dublin on the east coast of the island, it has a population of 10,070 according to the 2006 census. The town is situated to the east of the N11 route between Dublin and Wexford. Wicklow is also connected to the rail...
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
Wicklow Way
The Wicklow Way is a long-distance trail that crosses the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. It runs from Marlay Park in the southern suburbs of Dublin through County Wicklow and ends in the village of Clonegal in County Carlow. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the Irish Sports...
to become a reality. Malone first proposed a guided walking route through the Wicklow hills in 1966, although he had first raised the idea as early as 1942.
From 1938 to 1975 Malone contributed a regular column to the Evening Herald
Evening Herald
The Evening Herald is a mid-market tabloid evening newspaper published in Dublin, Ireland by Independent News & Media. It is published Monday-Saturday, and has three editions — City Edition, City Final Edition and National Edition...
entitled "Over the Hills".
During the 1960s, Malone presented a television documentary
Television documentary
Documentary television is a genre of television programming that broadcasts documentaries.* Documentary television series, a television series which is made up of documentary episodes....
series on RTÉ
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of 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
An Óige
An Óige , or the Irish Youth Hostel Association is the Hostelling International's association for the Republic Of Ireland....
, the Irish Youth Hostel Association, in recognition of his contribution to promoting the Irish countryside.
Following his death, Malone's contribution to hill-walking in Ireland was marked by the erection of a stone plaque in his honour on a section of the Wicklow Way overlooking Lough Tay
Lough Tay
Lough Tay is a small but scenic lake set in the Wicklow Mountains in County Wicklow, Ireland. It lies between the mountains of Djouce and Luggala, and is most easily viewed from above, from the R759 or the Wicklow Way as it descends past the J. B. Malone memorial...
.
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