Jim O’Malley is the author of Walking the Munster Blackwater, an account of his seven-day walk along the famed river. He’s from East Cork, between Killeagh and Youghal, and worked as a teacher in Cork, Dublin and Killorglin. He will read from his book at the Immrama Festival of Travel Writing, Lismore, Co Waterford on June 16-19.

JOHN Muir, the “father of the National Parks” who “saved the American soul from total surrender to materialism”, died a century ago this year. 2014 will be marked by Muir celebrations in the US and his native Scotland. April 21 has been designated John Muir day.

Land giveaways are rare in Ireland. Oliver Moore reports on the thinking behind octogenarian David Rowe’s decision to donate his entire five-acre holding in Co Carlow to a land trust.