Cupids Cove Chatter

Michael Crummey and his mother., originally uploaded by John Guy2010.

Michael Crummey shortlisted for world’s biggest literary prize

By Janet Harron of MUN Luminus Express

Memorial University alumnus and former writer-in-residence Michael Crummey has been shortlisted for the world’s biggest literary prize.

The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is worth €100,000 and is managed by Dublin City Libraries, on behalf of Dublin City Council.

It is sponsored by IMPAC, an international management productivity company with its European headquarters in Dublin.

Mr. Crummey is nominated for his 2009 novel Galore and is the only Canadian on the 10-person shortlist.

When asked for his response to being shortlisted, Mr. Crummey confesses to being “kind of overwhelmed by it … it’s pretty heady company to be keeping.”

The IMPAC award is presented annually with the objective of promoting excellence in world literature. It is open to novels written in any language and by authors of any nationality, provided the work has been published in English or English translation in the specified time period as outlined in the rules and conditions for the year. Nominations are submitted by library systems in major cities throughout the world.

Recent previous winners of the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award include
The Twin by Gerbrand Bakker (2010) Man Gone Down by Michael Thomas (2009), De Niro’s Game by Rawi Hage (2008) and Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson (2007).

The winner of the award will be announced on June 15 at a ceremony in Dublin, Ireland.

Pigeon Inlet Quilt Based on Ted Russell’s “Chronicles of Uncle Mose.”

Pigeon Inlet Quilters’ Guild Show at Ascension Collegiate in Bay Roberts, NL

June 24, 25, 26th.

Over 200 Exhibits
Merchant’s Market
Quilting Demonstrations
Hourly Draws on Great Door Prizes
Aunt Sophie’s Kitchen (Drop in for a Mug-up!)
The Pigeon Inlet Quilt will be on Display!

Contact: Pat Ivimey
Email: pivimey@eastlink.ca

Pigeon Inlet Quilt Show and Sale

Among the interesting artifacts found at the Cupids Cove Archaeological Dig were fragments of Bellarmine or Bartmann bottles. In the 17th century Bartmann jugs were employed as witch bottles, a popular type of magic item which was filled with various objects such as human urine, hair and magical charms, which were supposed to benefit their owners or harm their enemies.

The “face fragment” comes from a German manufactured Bellarmine bottle which dates to the early 17th century and was found just a few feet northeast of the dwelling house at Cupids.

Bellarmine Fragments
Other fragments of Bellarmine or Bartmann bottles were found broken on the wooden floor inside the dwelling house. According to William Gilbert, the chief archaeologist, the dwelling house, store house and some of the other buildings were destroyed by fire in the mid 1660s. We do not know the cause of this fire. We will also never know if the Bellarmine or Bartmann bottles were used as “witch bottles.”  However, there is a possibility because of the time period.

The popular alternative name “Bellarmine” is recorded earliest in 1634, and is in popular tradition associated with the cardinal Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621), a fierce opponent of Protestantism in the Low Countries and northern Germany. The reason for the association with Bellarmino is not entirely clear but was possibly conceived by Dutch and English Protestants to ridicule the cardinal. Another possibility is his anti-alcohol stance.

Reconstructed Bellarmine