Oban is a resort community within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. Despite its small dimension, it is the largest town between Helensburgh as well as Fort William. During the visitor season, the town can play host to up to 25,000 people. Oban inhabits a setting in the Firth of Lorn. The bay is a close to excellent horseshoe, protected by the island of Kerrera; and past Kerrera, the Isle of Mull. To the north is the long reduced island of Lismore and also the hills of Morvern and Ardgour. Laurinburg, North Carolina (USA) ended up being a sister city to Oban in 1993. The initial agreement was in between Scotland Region, North Carolina, as well as Argyll & Bute District Council. Adhering to reorganisation in 1995, the agreement was validated by Argyll & Bute Council in 1997. In 1997 Oban was additionally twinned with Gorey, County Wexford, in Ireland. Likewise twinned with Sarajevo. The local culture is Gaelic. In 2011, 8.2% of the community's population over age 3 can speak Gaelic as well as 11.3% had some facility in the language. [10] Oban is considered the home of the Royal National Mòd, considering that it was first held there in 1892, with ten rivals on a Saturday afternoon. The town hosted the centenary Mod in 1992 (the year it came to be Royal) and also in 2003 the 100th Mod, the two occasions drawing in countless competitors as well as visitors (the 100th Mod was behind the centenary due to the fact that it was not held in the war years). The Mod is kept in Oban approximately every 6-- 8 years, as well as has last been kept in October 2015.