What's In This Week's Oban Times - 10th May 2023

We have lots of interesting news and photographs for you in this week's Oban Times newspaper and at www.obantimes.co.uk

 

Reduced capacity on ferries between Oban and Craignure has put Mull rugby club's biggest fundraiser of the year in jeopardy. Mull RFC have advised team heading to their sevens tournament later this month to pre-book ferry tickets to guarantee spaces. This has been heightened by the redeployment of the MV Isle of Mull to South Uist later this month as the exasperation of islanders grows.

 

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In Oban, recruitment difficulties have hit the hospital's haematology department, with patients appointed to specialist hospitals in Glasgow from August. However, Oban's daycare case chemotherapy unit will continue scheduled treatments.

 

Over on Lismore, the island's firefighters are marching eight miles from one side of the island to the other in their kit to raise money for a defibrator for the ferry waiting room at Point.

 

Elsewhere, Ardmaddy Castle has also been identified as one of the top 10 places in Scotland to see bluebells.

 

The failure of the Corran ferry has so far cost Highland Council almost £500,000. It is currently eyeing up a £50 million bid to the UK Government for one replacement electric ferry, instead of two vessels.

 

In a Holyrood debate, a rebellion 0f SNP MSPs voted against a Scottish plan to ban fishing in 10 per cent of Scotland's seas. We find out how your local MSP voted.

 

Meanwhile, a Scottish minister is visiting the Isle of Rum this week to hear islanders' views on Kinloch Castle amid a row over the failure to sell it.

 

Argyll police officers are also being equipped with a medicine that could help to overturn some drug overdoses and Argyll & Bute Council are warning householders to watch out for energy installment scammers.

 

In other news, North-West of Scotland is hosting a NATO training exercise involving 10 nations over the next three weeks and Vikings are set to invade Dunstaffnage Castle later this month.

 

We took a trip to Lismore to find out all about Radio Six International, which broadcasts to 208 nations from Port Ramsay.

 

And we hear from two Oban parents who are pushing for a new Argyll inclusivity charity to be set up, while there is more ferry issues for Barra as the Castlebay linkspan closes for six days later this month.

 

In the sport, we have the latest shinty round-up and a full report, with photographs from Oban Lorne Ladies' valiant fight in the National Plate rugby final on Saturday.

 

There is also the latest from the North Argyll Cycle Club as they held their second time trial of the season and we have a preview before the Oban Sportive, which kicks off on Saturday May 20.

 

In football, Jacob MacIntyre, who is the grandson of a founding member of Oban Saints, is making huge strides as part of Scotland's under-17s national team.

 

We also have the latest from Connel motorcycling ace, John McPhee, a report from last weekend's Sail Round Kerrera event, and the latest darts round-up.

 

You can read all these stories and more by visiting www.obantimes.co.uk or by picking up a copy of our newspaper in local shops and garages.