First woman with Down syndrome to become blacksmith celebrates retired UCC professor with sculpture

Cork blacksmith Jessie Waschkowitz, Ireland’s first woman with Down syndrome in the trade, creates heartfelt UCC tribute sculpture

Jessie Waschkowitz presenting the sculpture 'The Heart of a Scholar' to professor Máire Leane, head of the ID+ futures programme to mark her retirement from University College Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

One of Ireland’s last remaining blacksmiths, Jessie Waschkowitz, did not just break the mould - she burned right through it by becoming Ireland’s first woman with Down syndrome to enter the profession.

The artist from Castletownbere was just 16 when she began an apprenticeship to follow in her father Reinhard’s footsteps. 

Six years on, Jessie’s hard work is paying off and she was the perfect choice when UCC colleagues commissioned a sculpture to mark the retirement of trailblazing academic Dr Máire Leane - professor in Social Policy and head of the ID+ Project at the college. Máire spent her career striving to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. 

Through her work with the ID+ Project, she promoted the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in higher education by offering university-level courses and facilitating co-learning opportunities with degree-level students. The programme also provides work experience placements to help with the development of vital skills. 

Jessie presented her sculpture to Máire during an emotional retirement event at the Glucksman Gallery in UCC. The piece, which Jessie named ‘Heart of a Scholar’ was inspired by Máire’s kindness. 

UCC staff watch on as Jessie Waschkowitz presents her sculpture 'The Heart of a Scholar' to professor Máire Leane. Picture: Dan Linehan

Jessie’s father Reinhard said: “Máire’s colleagues had heard about Jessie through Instagram. We didn’t know Máire before that, but Jessie learned - based on the information given to her - that she is a great professor with a great heart. 

"This was the inspiration for the sculpture which features a heart with a scholar’s hat. Jessie remembered her sister having a square hat at her graduation, so she imagines everybody in university running around with that exact same style.

"The sculpture was meaningful because of the kind of work Máire does. Even watching the forging process was quite moving. Sometimes blacksmiths have to start over many times because the sculpture might not take on the shape they want at first. 

"Jessie went through all these stages and kept going until she really got the form she wanted. She wouldn’t stop until she got the expression perfect. She really connected with the idea of a scholar with a good heart. The piece was done over a period of three days."

Mr Reinhard says he has always been extremely proud of his daughter’s compassion.

She wrote a card for Máire to go with the sculpture that read 'so you won’t forget you have a good heart'. It was such a meaningful way to say it, especially because the steel means the piece will last forever. 

Jessie explained what was involved in making such a special piece.

“I took a big piece of steel that was heavy and heated it. Then I hit it with my hammer until it looked like how I wanted it to. It was hot and heavy. A lot of the time I was sweating and it was hard but it was still great fun. 

"I wanted to make something with a heart for the body and a scholar’s hat for the top and I’m really happy with how it turned out.” 

Jessie Waschkowitz working in the forge at her home in Castletownbere. The West Cork artist will showcase her pieces at the Special Olympics in Berlin.

Loretta Brady, who is project manager with the ID+ Project UCC explained why the sculpture was such a fitting tribute to the trailblazing professor.

“Máire began the initiative 15 years ago with practically no funding. It has grown from strength to strength over the years. There is no point bringing people with intellectual disabilities into campus just to be in the physical building. 

"If this were the case she would just be renting a space. Her dream was to have them join the clubs and societies and attend modules that other students were attending. She is an unbelievable woman.”