Book cover , Poetic Gems: Selected from the works of William McGonagall
If you’ve spent any time in Dundee, you’ve probably heard the name William McGonagall — usually followed by a laugh, a raised eyebrow, or someone saying, “you have to read his stuff.”
And honestly? They’re right.
McGonagall is often described as the world’s best bad poet. Which sounds harsh… until you read him. Then it all starts to make sense — and becomes oddly brilliant.
Meet Dundee’s most confident poet
Born in 1825 (possibly in Edinburgh — even that’s a bit unclear), McGonagall spent most of his life in Dundee working as a handloom weaver.
Then, at the age of 52, he decided he was destined to be a poet.
Not wanted to be. Not fancied trying.
Destined.
Confidence was never the issue.
His poetry, on the other hand…
Let’s just say rhythm, rhyme and general flow were not his strong points.
And yet — despite all of that — he became famous.
William McGonagall
The Tay Bridge Disaster (you really should read this)
If you read one McGonagall poem, make it The Tay Bridge Disaster.
It tells the story of the collapse of the Tay Rail Bridge in 1879 — a hugely significant and tragic moment in Dundee’s history. McGonagall had actually written a poem praising the bridge when it first opened, and later returned to it after the disaster.
The poem is clearly heartfelt, and you can tell he’s trying to do justice to the scale of what happened and how it affected the city.
“Oh! the Tay Bridge disaster sad to say
Will be remember’d for a very long time”
And then… it becomes very McGonagall.
The rhythm is a bit all over the place, some of the details aren’t quite right, and the phrasing is exactly as dramatic as you’d expect. But that’s also what makes it so memorable.
It probably shouldn’t work — but somehow, it does.
More than just a joke
It’s easy to laugh at McGonagall — and you should — but there’s a bit more to him than that.
- He performed his poetry live (often to chaotic audiences)
- He travelled widely, convinced of his talent
- He even walked to Balmoral to present his work to Queen Victoria (and was politely turned away)
Some people even think he knew exactly what he was doing — leaning into the humour and building a reputation from it.
Either way, Dundee took him to its heart. And still has.
Why he still matters
There’s something quite reassuring about McGonagall.
He reminds us that:
- not everything has to be perfect
- confidence can take you a long way
- and sometimes the things that make you stand out aren’t the things you planned
Also — and let’s be honest — when you’re deep in assignments or dissertation work, reading something that’s a bit chaotic and genuinely funny is no bad thing.
Find McGonagall in the Library
If you’re curious (and you should be), you can explore McGonagall’s work right here in the University Library.
We’ve got:
- collections of his poetry
- biographies
- critical works looking at his life and legacy
So whether you’re:
- studying literature or history
- looking for a break from serious reading
- or just want to see what all the fuss is about
…it’s well worth a look.
Final Thoughts
William McGonagall is Dundee’s unlikely treasure: a man whose poetic misfires built a legacy that is still laughed with (and occasionally at), but always cherished.
So take a break from your essays, head to the library, and let McGonagall’s gloriously terrible verses brighten your day.
After all, only in Dundee could the worst poet become one of the city’s favourite legends.
The University Library of Dundee (our tribute to McGonagall)
O students of Dundee, both great and small,
The Library is the finest place of all,
With books and desks all in good array,
To help you study night and day.
So let us praise this building tall,
For it is most useful to us all,
And long may students come to see,
The grand Library of University Dundee!
