Rossinver Chapel developed from an oratory, which was built in Drungan on the shores of Lough Melvin next door to his private residence by Fr. James McGourty (1803 – 1874) in order to facilitate the celebration of daily Mass.

This Fr. McGourty, a native of Gortnaderry, Ballaghameehan was CC in Ballaghameehan Parish from 1829 to 1835 when he succeeded his uncle Fr. Francis Maguire as PP in Ballaghameehan where he ministered until his death on 15th August 1874. By 1858 the oratory had developed into the chapel, which served the surrounding community. It was built by the Meehan family of Moher.

Major reconstruction and renovation work was undertaken by Fr. Brian Maguire PP (1955-1959). The architect was Simon Leonard, and Elliot McCabe, Cavan were the contractors.
In October 1958 Dr. Austin Quinn, Bishop of Kilmore re-dedicated the church to Our Lady of Lourdes. A grotto to which the ladies of the parish subscribed was built opposite the chapel, Phil Rooney being the contractor and John McCabe the stone mason.

Mother Lurana House, Rossinver

The Franciscan sisters of the Atonement came to Rossinver shortly after Mr Hugh Feely, an exile from Rossinver, before his death in 1929 expressed a wish to Mother Lurana, foundress of the order, that his property in Ireland would house a religious congregation. His son was a member of the Franciscan Friars in Graymoor, Garrison, New York.

The late Dr. Finnegan, then Bishop of Kilmore was most anxious that Mother Lurana should immediately begin the foundation in Ireland. The first sisters who arrived in Ireland moved into rented accommodation until the building was completed in 1935. The architect was from Enniskillen and the contractor was Emmett Travers, Bundoran. On 8th August 1936, the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Robinson and Bishop Finnegan blessed the new convent, which was named Mother Lurana House.

The main thrust of the Franciscan Nuns work in Rossinver was the recruitment of postulants in the diocese and between 1936 and 1970 almost forty sisters were recruited to the order from Kilmore, mostly form North Leitrim. In October 1942 Mother Lurana House was granted permission to become a temporary noviciate during World War II.
When the sisters’ ministry changed to taking care of the elderly in 1971 alterations to and renovation of the building had taken place, Oliver Hazlette, Manorhamilton being the contractor. Sr. Ita Flynn, Sr. Miriam Boylan and Sr. Mary Saunders are the members of the present community in Rossinver.

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