My name is Phileomena Ann Bourke, or Irish Ann to my friends and customers. I was born and raised in Claremorris, County Mayo, Ireland. In 1994, I officially won my “green card” in the lottery and immigrated to Chicago, Illinois.

I have 2 children in Ireland, a daughter Aisling and a son Barry.

Life in Ireland was not easy. I was born in 1953, the youngest of eight children. My father was in construction in England and my mother raised us in Claremorris in a three-room cottage that sat on five acres; we truly lived off the land. Read more here...