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Oban (''An t-Oban'' in Gaelic ) is a Resort Town in Argyll And Bute , Scotland , with a population of around 12,000. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by around 25,000 people. Attractions in Oban include the Waterfront Centre, the Cathedral Of St Columba , the Oban Distillery , Dunollie Castle , Dunstaffnage Castle and McCaig's Tower , which dominates the town's skyline. The town also boasts a Cinema and a Railway Station , and is an important ferry Port . Oban is known as the ''Gateway to the Isles'', with Ferries sailing to the islands of Lismore , Colonsay , Coll , Tiree , Kerrera , Craignure on Mull , and to Castlebay in Barra and Lochboisdale in South Uist . A new ferry terminal was recently built on the railway pier, and a second linkspan is currently under construction to enable two ro-ro ferries to berth at any one time. In 2003, Oban hosted the 100th Royal National Mod (a Gaelic festival), in anticipation of which many signs were replaced with Bilingual versions. Not only was Oban the venue for the 100th Mod but it also hosted the centenary Mod in 1992 (the year it became Royal). The reason for the different dates for the 100th and the centenary being stoppages for the wars. Oban is considered the home of The Royal National Mod as the Mod was first held in Oban in 1892 with 10 competitors on a Saturday Afternoon The local amateur Football team is "Oban Saints" with a small stadium situated in Mossfield. However, Shinty is a more popular game locally. The Oban Times runs a popular ''Spot the Shinty Ball'' competition each week. Oban has also been used as a back drop to many films ranging from Ring of Bright Water to Morven Callar. See {Link without Title} . Oban is also reachable by plane via the small Oban Airport at Connel. The airport is currently being upgraded (costing some £4.2 million), so commercial planes can operate life-line island services, using Oban as a hub. History During World War II , Oban was a busy port used by merchant and Royal Navy ships. The RN had a signal station near Ganavan which is now a private house. Also near Ganavan was a Anti-submarine Indicator Loop station which detected any surface or submarine vessels between Oban, Mull and Lismore . There was a controlled Minefield in the Sound Of Kerrera which was controlled from a building near the caravan site at Gallanach . There is one surviving Air Raid Shelter in the centre of Oban. There was also a Royal Air Force Flying Boat base at Ganavan and on Kerrera . The airfield at Connel was originally built by the Royal Air Force during World War II . A Sector Operations Room was built near the airfield and after the war this was extended to become the Royal Observer Corps Group HQ. Oban was also important during the Cold War because the first Transatlantic Telephone Cable ( TAT-1 ) came ashore at Gallanach Bay and this carried the " Hot Line " between the US and USSR Presidents. There was protected accomodation for the cable equipment at Gallanach Bay. TOWN TWINNING EXTERNAL LINKS
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