JOYCEAN PICS 2009
Oban (An t-Oban)
Contents of This Page


  Visitor Information Centre
  Town Centre
  Railway Quay
  North Pier
  St John's Cathedral
  Crystal Palace (Chinese restaurant)
  
CONTENTS 2009
   1  Glasgow IASIL 2009@University of Glasgow
   2  Glasgow (Glaschu) and Joyce
   3  Glasgow (Glaschu): miscellanea
   4  Edinburgh (Dun Eideann)
   5  New Lanark, South Lanarkshire
   6  Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park (Pairc Naiseanta Loch Laomainn is nan Troisichean)
   7  Oban (An t-Oban)
   8  Kilchurn Castle, Argyll and Bute
   9  Inveraray Castle (Caisteal Inbhir Aora), Argyll and Bute
  10  Glen Coe (Gleann Comhann), the Central Highlands
  11  Loch Lochy (Loch Lochaidh) and Loch Oich (Loch Omhaich) of the Caledonian Canal
  12  Loch Ness (Loch Nis) of the Caledonian Canal
  13  Inverness (Inbhir Nis)
  14  Dublin (Baile Atha Cliath) and Joyce
  15  Dublin (Baile Atha Cliath): miscellanea
  16  Moneygall (Muine Gall), County Offaly
  17  Limerick (Luimneach)
  18  The Burren (Boireann), County Clare
  19  Doolin (Dulainn), County Clare
  20  The Cliffs of Moher (Aillte an Mhothair), County Clare
  21  Connemara (Conamara)
  22  London and Joyce
  23  London: miscellanea
  24  Bognor Regis, West Sussex
  25  Sidlesham, West Sussex
  26  Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire

Oban (An t-Oban)
31 July, 2009


  Oban (An t-Oban in Scottish Gaelic meaning "The Little Bay") is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland.  It has a total resident population of 8,120 (2001 Census).  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 up to 25,000 people.  Oban occupies a beautiful setting in the Firth of Lorn.  Oban Bay is a near perfect horseshoe bay, protected by the island of Kerrera, and beyond Kerrera is Mull.  To the north is the long low island of Lismore, and the mountains of Morvern and Ardgour.  In Oban "The Gateway to the Isles" some 9.4% of the population speak Gaelic.
  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 North 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 accommodation for the cable equipment at Gallanach Bay. Oban lies at the western end of the A85 road. It also has a railway station where a number of First ScotRail services operate to and from Glasgow Queen Street on a daily basis. The town is also an important ferry port, being Caledonian MacBrayne's busiest terminal. Oban is known as the Gateway to the Isles, with ferries sailing to the islands of Lismore, Colonsay, Islay, Coll, Tiree, Craignure on Mull, and to Castlebay in Barra and Lochboisdale in South Uist. In 2005 a brand new modern ferry terminal was opened. In 2007 a second link span opened now allowing two of the vessels to load/unload at the same time.
  Oban lies at the western end of the A85 road. It also has a railway station where a number of First ScotRail services operate to and from Glasgow Queen Street on a daily basis.  The town is also an important ferry port, being Caledonian MacBrayne's busiest terminal.  Oban is known as the Gateway to the Isles, with ferries sailing to the islands of Lismore, Colonsay, Islay, Coll, Tiree, Craignure on Mull, and to Castlebay in Barra and Lochboisdale in South Uist.  (Referred to the site of "Wikipedia")
  

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Visitor Information Centre
      The Oban Visitor Information Centre, operated under "VisitScotland," is located in the centre of the town in Argyll Square.  It is housed in an old Church of Scotland building.
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 (Friday 31 July) The Oban Visitor Information Centre, Argyll Square
  
  
   
Town Centre
  
   The town centre of Oban
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 (Friday 31 July) Railway Quay, town centre of Oban
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 (Friday 31 July) Oban Railway Station, Railway Quay
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 (Friday 31 July) George Street (A85), Oba
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 (Friday 31 July) Plaque of George Street (A85), Oban
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 (Friday 31 July) Highland Theatre, George St. Oban, PA34 5NX
  
  
   
Railway Quay
  
   Oban Bay is a near perfect horseshoe bay, protected by the island of Kerrera, and beyond Kerrera is Mull.  To the north is the long low island of Lismore, and the mountains of Morvern and Ardgour.
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 (Friday 31 July) Oban Bay, viewed from Railway Quay
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 (Friday 31 July) Oban Bay, viewed from Railway Quay
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 (Friday 31 July) Oban Bay, viewed from Railway Quay
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 (Friday 31 July) Oban Bay, viewed from Railway Quay
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 (Friday 31 July) Oban Bay, viewed from Railway Quay
  
  
   
North Pier
  
   Oban Bay is a near perfect horseshoe bay, protected by the island of Kerrera, and beyond Kerrera is Mull.  To the north is the long low island of Lismore, and the mountains of Morvern and Ardgour.  Some bilingual road signs reminded me that this is a Scottish-Gaelic-speaking area.
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 (Friday 31 July) A bilingual (Scottish Gaelic/English) road sign, North Pier
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 (Friday 31 July) A bilingual (Scottish Gaelic/English) road sign, North Pier
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 (Friday 31 July) A bilingual (Scottish Gaelic/English) road sign, North Pier
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 (Friday 31 July) A bilingual (Scottish Gaelic/English) road sign, North Pier
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 (Friday 31 July) Near North Pier
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 (Friday 31 July) Near North Pier
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 (Friday 31 July) Oban Bay, viewed from North Pier
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 (Friday 31 July) Oban Bay, viewed from North Pier
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 (Friday 31 July) Oban Bay, viewed from North Pier
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 (Friday 31 July) Oban Bay, viewed from North Pier
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 (Friday 31 July) A B&B, Dunollie Terrace (along A85) near North Pier
  
  
   
St John's Cathedral
  
   St John's Cathedral or the Cathedral Church of St John the Divine is a cathedral of the Scottish Episcopal Church, located in the town of Oban.  It is one of the two cathedrals of the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles, and one of the sees of the Bishop of Argyll and the Isles.  It is located along George Street (A85).
  The original St John's Church was completed in 1864.  The present building was mostly finished in 1910.  In 1920, the Church became the Cathedral of the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles.  (Reference: The official guide booklet)
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 (Friday 31 July) Plate of St John's Cathedral, Oban
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 (Friday 31 July) St John's Cathedral, Oban
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 (Friday 31 July) George Street Entrance to St John's Cathedral, Oban
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 (Friday 31 July) Font of St John's Cathedral, Oban
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 (Friday 31 July) Nave of St John's Cathedral, Oban
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 (Friday 31 July) Reredos and Sanctuary of St John's Cathedral, Oban
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 (Friday 31 July) Provost's Stall, St John's Cathedral, Oban
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 (Friday 31 July) Organ and Lady Chapel (South Transept), St John's Cathedral, Oban
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 (Friday 31 July) Organ and Lady Chapel (South Transept), St John's Cathedral, Oban
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 (Friday 31 July) The large three light window, by Wailes of Newcastle, given in 1864 by Sir Donald Campbell of Dunstaffnage, St John's Cathedral, Oban
  
  
   
Crystal Palace
  
   Crystal Palace (水晶棲) is a Chinese restaurant in Oban.  It is located at 126-130 George Street, Oban PA34 5NT.
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 (Friday 31 July) Crystal Palace, 126-130 George Street
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 (Friday 31 July) Crystal Palace, 126-130 George Street
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 (Friday 31 July) My lunch (Combination Chow Mein, £ 6.00) Crystal Palace, 126-130 George Street
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 (Friday 31 July) A Chinese hanging scroll, Crystal Palace, 126-130 George Street:
  
  "笑    一怒一老 一笑一少"
  
  It is a Chinese saying which means, "LAUGHTER: one anger makes you one year older, and one laughter makes you one year younger."




        


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