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THE CHURCH OF Scientology is expected to open a European base in south Dublin after spending money to refurbish a state-of-the-art community centre in Firhouse.
TheJournal.ie has learned that the movement is investing here by buying fittings for the Victory Centre – a large community centre and church which was at one time owned by the Victory Christian Fellowship.
A document seen by this publication shows that the Church of Scientology in the United States has paid for equipment to be sent to the Church of Scientology International (CSI) – crucially its address is listed as being on the Firhouse Road, Dublin 24. The full address reads:
CSI Ireland Community Center, Firhouse Road, Tymon South, Dublin 24.
The company they have used to ship the supplies list the following achievements on their website: “Since inception, HPC has purchased over $150 million of furniture, fixtures and equipment for projects ranging from the 5-star Newstead Belmont Hills Golf Resort and Spa in Hamilton, Bermuda to developing a comprehensive program for the Church of Scientology’s 155 buildings on 6 continents.”
Local Fine Gael councillor Brian Lawlor told TheJournal.ie that he has heard from a number of sources that the centre is to open. Currently, the only Church of Scientology International centre is located in Los Angeles and is described by the movement as the worldwide HQ and “the mother church of the Scientology religion”.According to the movement’s website:
Church of Scientology International (CSI), the mother church of the Scientology religion, is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. CSI oversees the ecclesiastical activities of all Scientology Churches, organizations and groups the world over and ensures that individual Churches receive guidance in their ministries. CSI also provides the broad planning and direction needed to support the Church’s international growth.
Sources have stressed that this does not mean that Scientology’s worldwide headquarters are being moved from LA to Firhouse. However, they did say that the group could use it as a European base. Last year, the centre sold for around €6 million, €12 million less than what it was valued at seven years ago. It also has a number of large meeting rooms and a designated place of worship which can hold over 1,200 people.
The church’s registered company here, which does not have religious or charitable status, recorded a profit of €48,803 in Ireland last year. The land in Firhouse is zoned by the council to be used as a place of worship. This means the Church of Scientology would not have to register any other interest with the council before building commenced on the site last year.
The land has not to be registered with the authorities and attempts to obtain information regarding the deeds proved unsuccessful. This week, we observed building work continuing on the site. Asked if they could comment on the new owners of the site, the builders said they could not. Sources have told this publication that the centre has the ability to host over 1,200 people for seminars and other church business.
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The Church of Scientology in Ireland currently operates out of two small hubs, both based in Dublin city centre. Last year, it set up a new National Affairs Office on Merrion Square in Dublin. According to its website, the office was established to “assist in meeting both physical and spiritual needs, and in addressing social ills from drugs to poverty to homelessness”.
Speaking at the opening of the centre, current leader of the Church, David Miscavige, said: “By opening the doors of the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office for Ireland, we are continuing in the tradition of our Founder L Ron Hubbard who himself held an office at 69 Merrion Square.
“And we do so with the intent to offer our humanitarian initiatives to all in honour of our founder and the aims of Scientology — a civilisation without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights.”
The group has been contacted by TheJournal.ie for comment but none has been provided. Councillor Brian Lawlor met with us outside the centre this week and said that he had made representations to the council over the site.
He told TheJournal.ie: “I know for definite that the Scientologists are coming into Firhouse. It’s very disappointing. Not because of who is moving in but it’s a missed opportunity for the community. It’s a remarkable site and it could have easily been transformed into a school. There is a large demand for a new school in this area. We made a number of representations to the Department of Education about this but were knocked back.
“Now the Church of Scientology has it. I have to say it’s a bad move not to have taken advantage of the site. This is very short-sighted.”
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I’d say the coverage will be unreal and the customer service second to none, said the sarcastic priest.
Paddy Wackery
Some of you are obsessed with customer service, can’t remember the last time I had to call them.
I can’t stand 3. Worst shower I ever had to deal with in my life.
If you were getting terrible network coverage in an area that’s on their map as a good area and then their customer service didn’t care, then you would be worried about their customer service, I think this is a terrible move, they should have used Vodafone or Meteor’s infrastructure, nothing good will come of a Three partnership, mark my words
Been with 3 for 4 yrs not a problem
Maybe UPC should sort their customer service first! They’ve gone from the very best to one of the worst!
@Ruairi: When were they ever the very best? They were still awful when they were ntl and Cablelink before that!
I’m stuck with them as I live in an apartment but their digibox and channel line-up is very poor vs Sky. Their broadband is excellent though but that’s about all they have going for them.
its only gonna get worse. Three’s customer service is based overseas and is answered by some poor sods in Punjab earning 150 Rupees an hour (€1.85 an hour).
Ian, I have UPC and find them very good. You’re right about the NTL days but I have never hit a brick wall with their customer service since they became UPC. Certainly better than Eircom(unists) and Sky
Ruairi,
when was the last time you called their customer service?
they changed a number of years ago and are actually very good.
easily accessible by phone, email, twitter and boards.ie
Last 3 mths they continue to overcharge me & exspect me to pay & I’m talking overcharging €30 they are incompdent fools
Let me guess. They’ll sell “bundles” that give you your home phone, mobile, Internet, TV and cat food in one package, so it’ll be even more difficult to switch providers.
Yes, and they’ll hold a gun to your head and force you to subscribe to it.
A lack of competition and options is effectively a gun to your head if you want to partake in the 21st century.
There is a lot of competition, don’t be ridiculous.
I think the technical term for such bundles is a fourplay.
For a small market the competition is fierce.
Cpm, there is one Cable TV provider in most cities in Ireland.. One.
“Cpm, there is one Cable TV provider in most cities in Ireland.. One.”
You were talking about bundles a minute ago, now it’s just cable TV?
I think you’re losing track of your argument in an effort to have the last word.
@Jeremy Osborne: Actually the entire point is that the competition is NOT fierce ENOUGH – Ireland’s mobile networks have amongst the highest Average Revenues per User in the EU – which is why the European Commission is now forcing 3 to open it’s network to TWO more competitors.
@ Ben Gunn – its referred to as Quadplay. Fixed Telephony, Broadband, Cellular and TV.
@ Picasso….. I know, I know, but please allow me a little attempt at schoolboy humour on a friday afternoon.
Such negativity. I see UPC’s entry into the mobile market as a positive for UPC customers. I am with UPC 7 years and I have phoned them on at least thirty occasions and the customer service staff have always been helpful to me.
30 times in 7 years? Why would anybody need to call them every 2.8 months!?
Moving house, reporting faults, general enquiries and a load of calls trying to convince them to give me a Cisco 3925 so i could bridge it and use my own Router. I got the 3925 in the end :)
And at all times the staff were courteous and helpful.
after buying O2. three should use their customer service
That will hardly happen. They will go with whatever is cheapest.
Wonder will they bring in femtocells to boost indoor mobile coverage?
No, they are a MVNO, however they may integrate it with the UPC phone app. which lets you use your mobile as home phone over any broadband connection.
The could sell a booster that plugs into their modem.
They’ve been around a while & would tie in well with the rest of their business.
no need too, they have the hardware in place already just use the wifi signal.
Great so another price hike on the way!!! Ffs
What?
Every time UPC get a bright new idea it means they increase the price on their packages for everybody to pay for it. In the last 2 years there has been around 3 or 4 price increases.
I’ve just gone through 3 years of emails from them and there was one price increase.
I’m sure you did. My bill has gone from €63 to €75 in the last 2 years for same service.
I did, yes. one email on 21st January this year about a price increase (a price increase of €5 and a self-service discount of €3, so a total increase of €2.
Why don’t you switch to Freeview or Sky?
Yes that one of them which varied in different amounts depending on which package you were in. The largest increase was for people who were out of contract in order to force them to sign up for a new one. There have been many increases over the last 2 years including the one you just mentioned. There was also one last summer to pay for their on demand service.
every time they raise prices is a change to contract, just ring customer care tell them your leaving because the price increase. they’ll put you through to customer retention department and offer you big discounts, if they don’t then move. (not many people end up moving)
Freeview do broadband and phone service now?
“Freeview do broadband and phone service now?”
UPC are the only providers of these services so, are they?
True brian iv done this a few times now ring saying im switching to sky. They put to on to loyalty line got good deals to stay each time. But after so long there channels are boring compare to what sky can offer. And for a better price
I left Sky for a month and they offered me 75% off my bill for 9 months. Sweet deal.
Id prefere it if they sorted out the issues with the Horizon Box of Sh#te..Bring back the dodgey boxes thems were the days.
I have no doubt that there will be an awful advertising campaign for this. That’s one area where they excel at. The TV ads from UPC make me change channel. I was with UPC once and never again. Three coverage is rubbish too. Both companies are welcome to each other.
Dennis O Briens UPC
uh…..no.
I hate the fact that we are stuck with upc because we are in an apartment. The horizon box is the worst product to ever be produced ,nothing but trouble with tv and broadband since getting it in
I wonder if they will tie in a data bundle for existing broad band customers, much like the horizon free wifi from other horizon boxes….
The guy to the right looks constipated ( main photo)
You look like you just let off a sneaky fart ;)
Brilliant 2 company’s know for their excellent customer service!,,,,,
The 3G/ 4G would be second to none, but the buttons/ design would be all over the show, with any incorrect entries leading to channel 100, adverts.
Jayziz look at those yokes. Hold on to your wallets.
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