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LIAM Daly of Property Partners Joseph Daly and Associates, Ennis, this week warned owners of second properties not to get hit with a fine for late payment of the new property FD. @

“The new €200 annual charge has been introduced on Irish residential property on non-principal private residences payable by the owners of these properties under the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009. The charge applies mainly to owners of private rental property and holi- day homes. However, it also applies to vacant residential property unless newly built but unsold,” said Daly.

He explained, “Liability to pay the charge is determined by ownership of a relevant property on the “liabil- ity date” and July 31, 2009, has been set as the liability date for the current

year.

Payment of the charge for this year is due by September 30. If payment of the charge is not made by Octo- ber 31 this year, a €20 late payment fee will apply for each month or part of month during which the charge is us} oy-Blee

Liam Daly observed, “We have found the majority of our clients are aware of the second homes property tax but are not aware of the fine.

‘“There’s enough pain in having to pay the €200 tax in the first place, especially in light of reduced rents and BER Cert costs. You want to avoid getting hit with an additional €20 fine for every month after Oc- tober that you haven’t paid because it could add up”.

For more details of how the Second Home Tax may affect you, contact Property Partners Joseph Daly and Associates on 065 6893257.

It may be difficult to protect the software by way of patent applica- tion if the new bit is the content of the application, as distinct from its Sante) TAT aye

Copyright will exist. Copyright exists once the software is written. This means that there is no registra- tion process necessary and protec- tion Is free.

The drawback is that this only protects your app against copying. If another party independently cre- ates software for the same app then copyright will not offer any protec- tion against them.

There may be something in the functionality of the application which may make it patentable. You will need to confidentially discuss AC Ca

If it’s possible, filing a patent ap- plication will provide an exclusive legal right to an invention, making it more attractive to investors. In Ire- land, there is also a tax exemption for income received under a qualify- AR Oa

MANY horses in Clare are being left to starve – because the recession has left their owners with no money to feed them.

The voluntary body Clare Animal Welfare has said in its annual report that the last year “has been an ap- palling year for equine cruelty and we have witnessed large numbers of horses abandoned in unsuitable conditions because their owners are unable to afford to feed and manage dete e0 a

Horse owners have been pleading with the group to help them care for animals. “While individuals do not wish to perpetuate cruelty, they are unable to sustain adequate feed and shelter for these animals any longer,” the report states.

CAW provided farrier assistance to five horses, one donkey and two po- nies and nursed two foals and mares. They have also sent several donkeys to the donkey sanctuary warden in ETc

CAW provided fodder for at least 32 neglected and abandoned horses and ponies in several areas, including Ennis, north Clare, Shannon, Tubber and Gort, County Galway.

“This proved costly and time-con- suming for our volunteers. Outdoor rugs were provided to all animals and veterinary attention continued while rehabilitation and relocation was underway.

“All the neglected equines have

been logged and the Clare SPCA of- ficer notified,” the report says.

“The increase in equine cruelty and neglect has reflected the current state of the Irish economy and CAW is unable to address all calls for as- sistance. It is our view that this is a national problem that will continue to escalate, and measures to address the provisions for equines is urgently needed. We are liaising with other welfare organisations and providing shelter for horses through network- ing with local riding establishments, pony clubs and breeders,” a spokes- woman for the organisation said.

In the last year, CAW has helped re-home 75 dogs who were in their care as well as working to re-home dozens more who remained with the owners until that was possible.

They have assisted 27 cats and

kittens directly through neutering worming and vaccinating and CAW is also carrying out a programme of helping with the cost of neutering and treating pets for people on lower incomes.

CAW is a totally voluntary organi- sation and depends on contributions from the public and the Department of Agriculture to carry on with it’s work. For futher information or in- formation on how to donate, contact 087 7954351 or 087 1315904 or 086 1031662

Log on to _ http://www.clar- eanimalwelfare.net or eer ne info @clareanimalwelfare.net.

The long wait goes on for Element Six employees

MUHAMMAD Ali crossed the At- lantic on Tuesday, 25 August — went to Old Trafford, visited Ricky Hat- ton’s gym, did charity gigs in Man- chester and Dublin and much more.

All, however, were just cameos and Supporting bouts before the main event on the card — that event was in Ennis where his heart wanted to be. “That’s why he left best for last,” said Dr Pearse Lyons of Alltech, the man responsible for bringing Ali to

J SyevevEse

“Ennis is the place he really want to come to, because this is where his ancestors come from. It dawned on him in many respects that he was coming home. He has been emotion- Yi leye) olan |

‘When he arrived we saw The Clare People and he’s inside the back going through it page-by-page. If there’s one thing that Muhammad loves it’s that he likes to read about himself.

‘““We’ve had packed houses wher- ever we went over the past week

— and in those houses only one man touched everyone, yet that one man said nothing. He was able to touch all those people by his presence alone,’ he added.

And, Dr Lyons also pointed out that it was Ennis that Muhammad Ali wanted to reach out to the most. “We are here in Ennis, because it is from Ennis that this great voyage started,” he said. “It’s from Ennis that Mu- hammad Ali’s Irish roots started. He is an icon from Ennis, probably the greatest inspiration in the world, the champ, a proud Irish man.

“It’s impossible to put into words — there’s such a warmth in the man, there’s such a radiation coming from the man. He’s a man that you want to follow and that’s why the people have come out in Ennis today. Mu- hammad is not Irish, he’s global, but today he has realised that he is part Irish and he’s proud of that, very proud of that.

‘“There’s nothing that saps you en- ergy more than emotion — today’s he’s little tired, but that’s because he’s so emotional about it. When we showed him the local paper, the shop windows, the American flags and the Irish flags, his sister-in-law kept say- ing Muhammad, you’re Irish, you’re home.

“Muhammad Ali himself realises that and that’s why this visit to En- nis has been so important to him. It has touched him deeply, just as it has touched the people who came out to see him today,” added Dr Lyons.

Physical restraint incidents for patients on the increase

TUESDAY last was one of the best, if not the best day, of Patrick Dono- van’s life.

The Ennisman shook the hand of Muhammad Ali and presented him with a book.

A huge fan of ‘The Greatest’, Patrick left his home in Clancy Park three hours later on a mission to see and meet him lifetime hero.

He had dreamed of brining his son Thomas to see an Ali fight but it was never to be, but when Ali came to Ennis, Patrick said all his dreams came true.

Dressed in a t-shirt with the man they once called Cassius Clay on the front and armed with a book he had for ten years – “Ali the King”, Patrick waved to Ali as he made his way back from the photographers

towards the monument that had just been unveiled in his honour.

Patrick called to him, like hundreds more that made up the excited crowd. Ali looked up, and dismissing any protest from publicists and security guards made his way over. He spent a few moments with Patrick looking at the book and pictures that captured Ali in his prime. For a few moments a glint of the old Ali returned to his eye and as much of a smile as his ill- ness would allow.

Then he took the book and left, but Patrick didn’t mind.

“Of course it was worth it, why wouldn’t it be worth it, sure there will never be a man here like him again,’ he said.

His dream had just come true.

Carbon-copy crashes at junction

OF course Muhammad Ali was the star turn, charming everyone with- out opening his mouth — his mere presence being enough to bring the county capital to a standstill for a few hours.

However, he wasn’t the only Ali to charm his Ennis public — Lonnie Ali also did her part to steal the show when addressing the Ennis Town Council Civic Reception in Water- park House.

“Are there any relatives of Mu- hammad here?” she asked. With that up stepped Imelda O’Grady,

Mary O’Grady-Gormley and Mary O’Donovan with gifts for “The Greatest’ — an O’Grady family crest, a ‘céad mile failte’ plaque and an al- bum of photographs from the Turn- pike.

“It’s a rare opportunity that we get to come to Ireland and especially to Ennis,” said Lonnie. “The people of Ennis, you have been so overwhelm- ing in your outpouring of love to this ynarenee

“We are sincerely appreciative and thankful to everyone of you and now that we know that Muhammad is an ‘Innisman’, we will be back.”

It was the way she said it — adopt-

ing Ennis-speak and the vernacular of a true Townie. It’s something that wasn’t lost on ‘Townies in the Town Council audience, or those in the crowd watching the telecast that was beamed onto a big screen at Abbey Street carpark.

And there was more from Lonnie.

“IT have never seen anything like this before and neither has Muham- mad. He was overwhelmed by it, re- UMAR Laon

“It was better than any medicine you could give him. He was excited and surprised by the outpouring of people, even the children who were out on the street.

“It’s interesting that when you look at Muhammad and his _ pugilistic skills and his loquacious ways, that if his great grand father were alive he’d swear that it came from him. And if he were alive today he’d be in every pub talking about it.”

The O’Gradys doing the talking on Tuesday were Muhammad Ali’s relatives — you could say they were reeling with the welcome given them by both Muhammad and Lonnie. “I can’t believe that I got to meet Mu- hammad,” said Mary O’ Donovan. “It was a dream come true for me and I was crying. We had lovely photo- graphs taken with after the recep-

nena

“I’m very emotional over it,’ said Imelda O’Grady. “It’s been a real roller coaster over the past few weeks, looking forward to the visit and now that it has happened and I got to meet Muhammad Ali is unbelievable,’ she added.

Meanwhile, Mary O’Grady-Gorm- ley was lost for words. “I don’t know what to say,” she said. “To meet him, to hold his hand and be photographed with him. It must be the highlight of TUOh Yas become

Muhammad Ali and Lonnie Ali had just made their day. Everyone’s CPAs KOvMmner-limeet lito) m

GARDAI are reminding drivers to respect speed limits and road mark- ings after a spate of “replica” acci- dents were observed at the Captain Mac’s cross junction in Ennis.

At least four major collisions have occurred in the area, along with a high number of smaller less serious

accidents, according to one local businessman.

Shop manager David Crimmins said the junction has been the scene of a high number of collisions be- tween cars travelling to and from the town centre.

‘The incidents are always the same. Cars coming past Flannan’s (College) and go to make a right turn down to-

wards the bus station and cars going out the Clare road, from Ennis, crash into them. They’re all replica acci- dents,” explained Mr Crimmins.

He added, “They’re almost identi- cal, all the crashes. It’s spooky how similar they are. They nearly all hap- pen at the exact same spot on the road. They end up in the same spot afterwards. You could nearly take

out a measuring tape and measure out where it happens.”

Mr Crimmins, manager of a Londis shop located at Captain Mac’s cross, said the incidents involved local drivers and tourists passing through the town.

He said that on one occasion in July, a major incident was narrowly averted when a car almost crashed into a petrol pump located in the ga- rage forecourt.

‘There was one where one of the cars actually came into the garage. It came in about 100 yards off the road. I was sitting in the office and I heard this great bang.

He continued, “There have been four major ones in the last 12 months, but they would be the big ones. But there have been a lot of smaller, sim- ilar-type incidents. You would just hope that people would be a bit more aware. You would hate to see some- one get seriously hurt.”

Gardai in Ennis say that while they are unaware of any high incidence of accidents at the junction, they would remind drivers to observe speed lim- its and respect road markings.

‘At very busy junctions, you expect maybe more accidents but other than that, we are not aware of it. We would encourage all motorists to respect speed limits and road markings,” a spokesperson said.

He added that anyone with con- cerns should contact gardai. “If peo- ple want to send in submissions on the matter, that it is something we would welcome and consider.”