Francis Kilkenny, second son of Francis & Maria (Gilfillan) Kilkenny was born in Killafee, Aughavas in 1873 and went to America in 1891, first to Chicago, IL, where he had five maternal aunts. After a short time in Chicago Francis went to South Bend, IN, about 90 miles SE of Chicago to his paternal aunt, Sr. Catherine Kilkenny, of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in St. Mary's Convent, Notre Dame. St. Mary's Convent was near the University of Notre which was founded by Fr. Sorin, Holy Cross in 1842. Francis went to the university in 1892 and studied commerce. Fr. Sorin, as President of Notre Dame, had a rule whereby any student wishing to study there, if unable to pay the full fees, would do work such as helping at meal times, etc., that would not interfere with their study. No doubt Francis paid the bigger part of his fees in that way as he was only in America for a short time and his family in Ireland were in no position to help him. He graduated from Notre Dame in 1896 and went to Chicago.

His first job was as a cloakroom attendant in the Union League in Chicago. While working there in 1896 the presidential election campaign was in full swing. All types of businessmen attended this club and politics was often the topic of conversation. One businessman deeply involved in the presidential campaign on behalf of the Republican candidate (Coolidge), Charles Dawes, frequently had his lunch and dinner in the Union Club where he subsequently met Francis Kilkenny. Dawes was struck by this bright-eyed, red-cheeked lad with an Irish brogue and asked Francis if he would like to work for him. Francis began within the week as Dawes confidential assistant.

In 1897, Dawes was appointed Comptroller of the Currency and Francis went with him to Washington (DC). While there, Francis organized a "Back to Ireland" movement in 1910, urging Irish-Americans to visit Ireland and to help with ideas to benefit the country. In 1916, Francis returned to Chicago and began a financial business.

When America joined the Allies in WWI, Francis Kilkenny joined the Army. When the American Army landed in France, Dawes was appointment as General with the responsibility for all U.S. purchases and appointed Francis Kilkenny as his aide-de-camp with the rank of Lieutenant along with another Irishman, Moloney, from Co. Clare. When the U. S. Army returned to the States, Francis continued in his financial business but left Chicago to go to Washington with Dawes. He returned to Chicago in 1922 and married Ellen Ryan and raised a family of two boys and two girls. Francis was a member of the Dawes team that visited France and Germany to promote and put into effect the Dawes plan for economic aid to Germany. When Dawes was selected as VP for the Republican Party in 1924, he appointed Francis as his campaign manager. Coolidge ws elected President and Dawes Vice President.

In 1929, the President of the Dominican Republic, Vasquez, invited Dawes to form an economic commission to visit the republic to study its financial affairs. Francis was again selected as a member of the commission. Dawes was appointment as American Ambassador to London in June, 1929. He offered Francis the post of Private Secretary. Francis declined as he had a young family and he returned to his own financial business.

Francis suffered a stroke in early 1931 and died in January of 1933, a long ways from the muddy lane of Killafee that he had left in 1891.

-- Excerpt, "Leitrim Guardian," by Mick Kilkenny, the nephew of Francis Kilkenny. Mick was born in Killafee, Aughavas in 1918 and attended Augharan NS, then to St. Mel's College, Co. Longford. He played football with Aughavas and Tully, played with Leitrim in 1938. He joined the Garda Siochana in Sept. 1939 and was stationed in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin; Lauragh, Co. Kerry, Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin, and at the transport division in Garda Headquarters for 32 years. While in the transport division, Mick drove many government ministers, and was with J. A. Costello for 22 years. He was the senior driver when the Pope, John Paul II, came to Ireland in 1979 and drove him in car VIP 1.

A photo of Fr. James Reynolds, Francis Kilkenny and Fr. Michael Masterson at St. Mel's College in 1920 appears in the "Leitrim Guardian" 2001 yearly issue.