Victory Centre notice plans for pitch lighting
By Aideen O'Flaherty
A PUBLIC notice has been erected at the back of the Victory Centre in Firhouse, which it is believed has been bought by the Church of Scientology, outlining plans for lighting for the centre’s adjoining sports pitch.
The applicant, Julie Lind, has applied for planning permission for the erection of six lighting poles to support LED lighting for the sports pitch.
It is proposed that the poles will be at a height of 15 metres from the existing pitch levels, and will be connected to an existing subterranean ducted electrical supply.
There are provisions for associated site landscaping works, comprising supplementary tree and hedgerow planting to the existing site boundary to the north of the site, adjacent to the Dodder Valley Greenway.
Ms Lind previously applied for retention permission for a sign at the site of the Victory Centre last month.
Independent councillor Deirdre O’Donovan responded to the belief that the Church of Scientology has acquired the site by saying, “I don’t know of any Scientology places that have playing pitches.
“I just think it’s very strange. When you look at the previous work of site’s architects, Currie and Brown, there’s a lot of educational buildings.”
However, Cllr O’Donovan added that she is aware that the site has permission to be used as a place of worship.
As previously reported in The Echo, the Church of Scientology is reported to be recruiting 100 staff to help run a new training centre in Firhouse that is has bought for €6 million.
The Victory Centre was put on sale by Bank of Scotland Ireland after previous owners, the Victory Christian Fellowship, ran up debts of €18.5 million.
Goldman Sachs is reported to have bought the centre before selling it to the Scientologists.
The Church of Scientology in Ireland currently operates two small hubs in Dublin city centre.
The Victory Centre has been closed since 2013.
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