Ciaran Dorris

"Stunning" - Billy Connolly

"..a sensitive original" - Rob Adams, The Herald

"I've just listened to 'Halcyon Highway', and I am blown away - my spine was tingling! I'm flattered and moved that you found some inspiration in my book and I'm determined to immediately adopt Halcyon Highway as the High Tide Theme Song." - Mark Lynas, Climate Change Expert

"..tugs at the heartstrings..emotionally charged singing" - Evening Times

"A voice so emotive & warm" - Mike Silver

"A remarkable voice" - Folk On Tap

"..tenderest & sweetest version of 'Raglan Road' .. ever heard .. On a more worldly plane the song about his friend, 'Maisie' was wholly irreverent yet supremely witty" - Falkirk Folk Club

"Ciaran has one of the best voices I have heard during my ten years of running Warwick Folk Club. He held our club audience spellbound with his own emotive song, Dulce et Decorum Est..." - Pam Ashford, Warwick Folk Club

"A powerful voice and an accomplished guitarist, with some exquisite moments of string plucking" - Evening Echo, Ireland

"Blew me away" - Johnny Collins

"a wonderful singer" - Paddie Bell

"a fine, literate collection" - Sarah McQuaid, Irish Evening Herald

"great songs and sounds" - Colum Sands

"Beautiful musicianship throughout" - Cherrie McIlwaine, BBC Radio Ulster

"This album, as a debut album, is nothing short of brilliant. Emotional, passionate and thought inspiring. Ciaran has made Raglan Road his own. Absolutely stunning." - Charles Dewhurst, 'No Celtic Boundaries'

"'Songs about people, places, and events. In essence, folk music that you don't need a tankard to like'. A Belfast-born, Glasgow based songwriter Dorris made a name for himself on that cities burgeoning folk scene with the band Arran Bede and latterly with the singer Heather Innis. Taking a slightly broader approach for his debut solo record Dorris has nonetheless kept at least one foot in the tradition. In the same way as say Boo Hewerdine exudes sincerity in his songs without ever (well, nearly) falling into that pit of sickly seriousness so too does Dorris. Delivered in an instantly likeable tone these are songs of returning home only to find 'home' isn't exactly how you remembered it ("The Prodigal's Return"), the world's reluctance to really come to terms (or even acknowledge) global warming ("Halcyon Highway), and, best of all, a song penned especially to tell the tale of how Dorris gave a young Josh Ritter a few words of encouragement on the very funny "Amy Rigby's Shoe." - Yes, I know, its a long story. This is folk music played and performed with all the gusto and guile of more traditional fare yet there isn't an Arun jumper in sight and, as far as I can tell, there is not a finger anywhere near an aural orifice. Like the best 'folk' music this is good whole-hearted story telling that touches upon all aspects of everyday life and leaves you genuinely interested (and in some cases moved) by the peoples, places, and events.. Yes, liked this one." - Del Day, Americana UK

"One time member of Irish/Scots/American folk band Arran Bede, and more recently found in a duet with Scottish singer Heather Innes, Belfast-born Ciaran Dorris has been based in Scotland for some years. His debut solo album Chasing Dreams Down a Dirt Road inhabits the singer/songwriter terrain equally influenced by American forms as well as his Irish roots. An impressive writer and impassioned vocalist, Dorris' style of delivery is perfectly suited to the timbre of his material. The Prodigals Return captures the dislocation felt by emigrants on returning home while Amy Rigbys Shoe describes the hero worship felt on meeting the off-kilter American singer/songwriter, and The Ballad of Maisie Madden outlines his prowess with a mock traditional ballad. An impassioned take on Raglan Road displays his balladic strength. Chasing Dreams Down a Dirt Road is a welcome debut album from a very impressive talent." - John O'Regan, Irish Music Magazine

"A Belfast native who's been based in Glasgow since 1988, Ciaran Dorris has recorded previously with the band Arran Bede and as a duo with Heather Innes. Now he's made his debut solo album, featuring nine originals plus a lovely cover of Raglan Road that actually brings something new to the song. There's a definite Joni Mitchell influence in the unexpected chords and major-minor shifts of tracks like the pensive Not A London Girl and Calvary Circus, a daring attempt to tackle the pitfall-strewn topic of the Good Friday Agreement. Fellow musos will appreciate Amy Rigby's Shoe, an accurate and candid description of what it feels like to submit oneself to the soul-destroying cattle mart that the world calls a music industry convention. Thankfully, the experience didn't discourage him from releasing this fine, literate collection." - Sarah McQuaid, Irish Evening Herald