Get Reel Band Participates in the Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games Bid.
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Author: Miriam Morrissey
Released 10 December 2007
On October 25, 2007, Get Reel Band were invited to perform for the Heir Apparent His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani , Qatar Government and the Qatar Olympic Committee. The Qatar Olympic Association selected 9 countries that had significant numbers of expatriates working in Qatar and surrounding countries to participate and present their customs and traditions by music and dancing. The countries selected were Qatar, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Georgia, Italy, Korea, Africa and Colombia.
The open air event took place at the Corniche where thousands came to witness the official launch of the Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games Bid. The arab sporting icon archer Nada Zeidan, who is the official ambassador for the 2016 bid, unveiled the bid’s logo “The Aldahma: Flower of the Spring”. Qatar’s vision for the games will be focused on the world’s youth.
(Left to Right) Front Row: Joyce Riley, Mark McFarlane, Miriam Morrissey; Second Row: David Fuglie, Patrick Caulfield; Back Row: Mark Wootton, Wyn Hughes.
The ‘Get Reel’ band was formed approx 9 years ago in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The current group consists of 7 musicians – five male and two female. The band members are as follows: Miriam Morrissey (Vocals), Joyce Riley (Violinist), Geraint Hughes (Whistle/Recorder/Harp), David Fuglie,(Acoustic, Electric Guitar, Vocals) Patrick Caulfield,(Accordian, Vocals and Irish Trad Dancer), Mark McFarlane, (Bass, backup soundman), Mark Wootton (Drums). Five of the seven members all work for Saudi Aramco, Dhahran, KSA. The other two members are both Teachers working for the International School in Jubail, KSA.
Because of the mixed nationalities of band members, Get Reel play a variety of styles of music from Irish Traditional Celtic music mixing the old traditional sounds with a current and more upbeat tempo and rhythm. They also play some Cajun, Country and Contemporary to name but a few.
Get Reel have become very popular over the past few years in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and have established themselves internationally wise in Bahrain and even more recently Qatar when they were invited to participate in the Qatar bid for the 2016 Olympics.
They play on occasions throughout the year to packed audiences at the local Baker House Wednesday night music club on Kings Road, Saudi Aramco. The band also perform in the District areas of the Eastern Province at local music cultural festivals.
In Bahrain they have a regular slot for the past 3 years performing at the Dilmun Club, Sar and for the past two years Get Reel have played support band at the annual Bahrain Irish Society’s St. Patrick’s Ball, entertaining 700-800 guests to the sounds of Irish traditional music and song. The band will perform again at the St. Patricks Ball on March 13, 2008.
Pat Caulfield, one of the musicians in the band is also a talented Irish Traditional dancer and as part of the Get Reel show, he performs solo dance numbers to the music of Get Reel. A year ago, Pat created a new female dance group called “DesertDance” all expatriate females working for Saudi Aramco. Occasionally, DesertDance and Get Reel come together to entertain audiences with a spectacular Irish show of music and dance. A show not to be missed.
Get Reel Band's recent performances:
- Doha, Qatar – October 25, 2007 – Opening Ceremony - Qatar's bid 2016 Olympics
- Dilmun Club, Bahrain - November 29th, 2007.
- Abqaiq – International Cultural Music Festival – December 6, 2
To book Get Reel Band - email: getreelband@yahoo.ie