Prof. Declan Kennedy

Positive News!

Jane Taylor talks about her encounters with Declan along GEN, money, and inspiration

I first met Declan at the launch of Global EcoVillage Network at Findhorn and of course I loved him from the start:
His wonderful gaiety and joie de vivre being marked him out as someone who was very much on the right track and had found the secret of Life.

I already knew Margrit as the author of the wonderful "Interest and Inflation Free Money" book, but this was the first time I discovered that, apart from being a wonderful woman herself and an inspiration to us all, she was lucky enough to have an ideal husband!

Sometime later we collaborated on the Global Ecovillage Network supplement published in Positive News. I particularly remember being holed up with Declan in a bedroom in Amsterdam which, though wonderful to spend time with him in such close proximity, was more exciting mentally than physically: it was all in the cause of producing the GEN supplement!

We met again with Margrit in Alpbach at a Money conference organised by Peter Koenig. At that time I was trying to devise a regional currency for Wales and we spent some time discussing the possibilities. I remember at one stage, thinking that we had cracked it, but when I got home I discovered a fatal flaw. I can't now remember what it was and now may well be a good time to revisit the idea as much more work has been done on regional currencies. One of my great regrets is that I never managed to get to any of the follow-up conferences in Lebensgarten, not to mention the European conference on regional currencies.
Another regret is that I failed to take up Declan's suggestion that I help with the editing of the new edition of "Interest and Inflation Free Money" - I would have loved to be associated with that book, not to mention the opportunity to spend more time with Declan and Margrit.

Last time I saw Declan was in London when we had dinner at Hugo's in Exhibition Road and he gave me a wonderful book by Eckhart Tolle for which I am deeply grateful. That was some time ago.

And then I remember writing about his attempt to get elected to the European Parliament - at least I think I wrote about it. I have a vivid memory of a particularly striking picture of him looking particularly bright and cheerful and alive that accompanied the story.
We were due to meet in London in October 2008, when he was on his way to Ireland with Kathleen to promote Gaia University, but Declan, sadly, fell by the wayside.

I look forward eagerly to our next encounter, be it here or in Germany. Indeed I would love both Declan and Margrit to visit me in Wales. Maybe if we get back on the task of creating a Welsh Regional Currency that would give us a good reason to get together.
In the meantime I wish Declan a very long life in good health and lots and lots of fun. I know, whatever he is doing, he will continue to be an inspiration to all who are lucky enough to spend time with him.

Jane Taylor
Journalist
jane@positivenews.org.uk