While some minor works remain to be completed the church re-opened its doors to mass-goers on Saturday night and there was a strong attendance at the first mass and great praise for the works.
These included the replacement of the heating and electrical systems with under-seat heating now installed as well as new radiators.
The vinyl tiles within the church had to be removed to clear asbestos, works which required as specialised team, and have now been replaced giving a new look to the century-old church.
Some of the tiling on the side aisles and transepts of the church have not yet to be completed but all works are hoped to be finished within weeks.
The O’Connell Church is the only church in Ireland to be named after a lay person Daniel O’Connell ‘The Liberator’ and it is fitting that on his 250th birthday, the church dedicated to the renowned political leader, has been upgraded to ensure its existence for generations to comes.
The total cost of the works has come in at €2m and to date €500,000 has been raised but a short-fall of approximately €1.5m remains.
The Daniel O’Connell Church Restoration Committee was set up to help raise funds and they are eternally grateful to the parishioners for their support to date.
They also expressed gratitude to the Benefact Trust and the Albert Gubay Foundation in the UK for grant-aid to help with the works.
However, despite significant support funds are still needed and a fundraising concert in December will hopefully raise more.
Chairperson of the parish council and PRO of the Daniel O’Connell Church Restoration Committee, Marie McGowan, said the works will “preserve the building for generations to come.”
She said the generosity of the community, those abroad and of course the grant-aid from the UK charities has been fantastic and they are eternally grateful and she says in time they will reach the target they need to help pay for the works. A loan has been provided by St Brendan’s Trust in the interim.
"We are so proud of our amazing church. During this time we have had to have masses elsewhere so we are delighted to be back,” she said.