Upon his return from the Spanish Civil War, William Franklin (Aidan Quinn) takes up a position as the only lay teacher at St Judes; an austere reformatory school run by Catholic brothers. Having fought with the Republicans in Spain, Franklin finds himself stigmatised as a socialist and his isolation among the staff is further compounded by his opposition to the excessive punishment that is meted out to the children.

Slowly Franklin breaks down the barriers of mistrust that the boys have and establishes a particular rapport with the plucky and intelligent Mercier.

However his quest to instil a sense of self worth in the boys finds opposition in the shape of the autocratic and staunchly disciplinarian Brother John (Iain Glen), who views the boys as animals. Brother John's clashes with Franklin escalate as he intensifies his regime of fear and identifies in Mercier a means to strike back at Franklin.

Adapted from Cork writer Patrick Galvin's autobiographical account of the sanctimonious piety and terrible cruelty in an Irish-Catholic boy's reform school, this excellent drama avoids 'worthiness' in favour of nuanced human drama… Its conclusion will leave you transfixed.' Edinburgh Film Festival

Winner, Golden Swan Best Film Award - Copenhagen International Film Festival

Song for A Raggy Boy will be preceded by the World Premiere of Aunt Bridget, a short animation by Cork-based animators Stefanie Dinklebach and Vladislav Bairamgulov, featuring the voice of Patrick Galvin reading his poem of the same name.