It's the Irish Flu

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"This isn't a hangover, it's the Irish flu." – Classic Irish saying

Today in Global Small Business: Find Out What's On the Agenda for SXSW 2025

©iStock/John Davis

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• What's on the agenda for SXSW 2025?
• How to get ready for St. Patrick's Day. 
• Quote of the week:  "The complexity of the world in which we live exceeds our capacity to comprehend it." – George Soros
• Some regrets.
• Thank you SNL!
• Back and forth tariffs.

Chicago Preps for St. Patrick's Day

An impromptu visit to the Office of the Mayor and I [Laurel Delaney] fell upon this joyous ceremony.  If you look closely, you can catch a glimpse of Chicago Mayor Lightfoot. 

St. Patrick's Day Is An Enchanted Time

©2014 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

“St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time. It’s a day to begin transforming Winter’s dreams into Summer’s magic.” – Adrienne Cook

Shaking It Up on St. Patrick's Day

©2021 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

I [Laurel Delaney] will be keeping it simple on St. Patrick's Day slurping my Shamrock Shake.  But for those who want to shake it up and live in San Diego, here are a few interesting places to enjoy a bit of Irish fun, food and beverage.  Oh, and for the Chicago folks, Eli's Cheesecake has some good stuff going on with their Green River Cheesecake, yum. 

Whatever you do, please continue to mask up, be safe, stay healthy and wear a bit of green while having all your fun!  

Happy St. Patrick's Day, My Favorite Day of the Year

Top of the morning to you!  Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day -- my favorite day of the year.  These are scenes in Chicago along the river front (Wacker Drive).  You can find out why they dye the river green in Chicago here.

Photos courtesy:  ©2017 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Irish Blessings You Need Most

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"May the blessings of each day be the blessings you need most" - Irish Saying

Prepping for St. Patty's Day

Catch all the great activities in Chicago for St. Patrick's Day.

Photos courtesy:  ©2014-2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

My Favorite Time: St. Patrick's Day

iStock/Thinkstock

An Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

May God be with you and bless you:
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.

May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.

Everyone the world over is Irish on St. Patty's Day!  Have a happy one.  This one's for you dear Dad, Thomas S. Delaney (God rest his soul January 8, 2011).

Everyone Is Irish On St. Patrick's Day

iStock/Thinkstock

In celebration of St. Patrick's Day Tuesday, Chicago traditionally dyes the Chicago River a bright emerald green (as pictured) which they did this morning.

The annual parade is taking place as I write this (3/14/09 at 1:25 p.m. CDT) and rest assured, with a name like Delaney (from Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, Ireland) ... I am wearing every green item I own.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

iStock/Thinkstock

You don't have to be Irish to celebrate St. Patrick's Day -- my favorite day of the year! You just need a little "spirit" to make it something special.

Ireland, Sir, for good or evil,
is like no other place under heaven;
and no man can touch its sod
or breathe its air without becoming
better or worse.
~ George Bernard Shaw

I will be thinking of all of you as I toast the night away.

Enjoy! Erin Go Bragh (Ireland Forever)!

Just in (3:19 p.m . CDT) ... St. Patrick's Day Parades Go Global. A hat tip to our Borderbuster newsletter editor Bob Marovich for letting us know about it.