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The Redemptorist priests of Clonard Monastery hope to have the face-lift completed for the church's 100th anniversary in October 2011
Clonard, known throughout the world for its annual nine-day Novena of prayer, has been showing signs of wear and decay in recent years.
During stormy weather, worshippers often had to negotiate a series of buckets set out to collect rain-water leaping through the roof.
The ornate wall mosaics, reminiscent of the Byzantine age, attract thousands of sight-seers each year.
However, parts of the intricate patterns have now begun to disintegrate.Rector Michael Murtagh said the church, acknowledged as one of the most beautiful in the city, was now in the second phase of a three-phase plan to restore the building to its former glory.
The huge rose window over the main entrance has been replaced during phase one and phase two involved replacing the roof, storm-proofing windows and replacing crumbling brick work.
Fr Murtagh said £300,000 had been raised so far but a total of £1m was needed to complete the work. "Now we hope to tackle phase three and the interior of the church which will include the renovation of the ceiling, the floor and shrines and the mosaics, as well as upgrading the lighting, sound and heating systems."
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