McCann's tale of 1970s New York set against the backdrop of the momentous wire walking between the World Trade Center towers by Frenchman Philippe Petit, was described by the judges as an "indelibly hallucinatory portrait of a decaying city."

As well as the honor and accolades, the award comes with cash prize of $10,000.

At the awards ceremony, McCann, who lives in Manhattan with his wife and three children, dedicated his win to the late Frank McCourt.

"I think he's dancing upstairs," McCann said of McCourt in his acceptance speech at Cipriani Wall Street.

Tributes quickly poured in for McCann, a writer who has for many years made New York his home.

Irish arts minister, Martin Cullen, said the award was recognition of McCann's immense talent.

"The Irish imagination is one of our greatest assets and the individual creative success of modern Irish writers like Colum McCann continues to make an enormous contribution to cultural life, both at home and abroad," Cullen said.

"The global cultural profile of Irish artists past and present, indelibly associates Ireland with world-class achievement in creativity and the arts," he added.

The New York Times described McCann's novel, published by Random House, as featuring "a sprawling cast of characters in 1970s New York City whose lives are ineluctably touched by the mysterious tight rope walker who traverses a wire suspended between the Twin Towers one morning."

Irish ambassador to the U.S., Michael Collins, also congratulated McCann.

"I would like to congratulate Colum on having achieved this great honor. The National Book Award is an eminent literary award. It is recognition of Colum's magnificent talent and a wonderful tribute to 'Let the Great World Spin,' a powerful, moving novel.

"I was delighted to have the opportunity at the embassy in Washington to host a reading by Colum last month, at which he read from 'Let the Great World Spin.' Ireland takes great pride in his success and we wish him the very best in the future."

Glucksman Ireland House at New York University also congratulated the author who is lined up to discuss his work at Ireland house on Dec 1 along with fellow author Joe O'Connor.

McCann qualified for the National Book Award, which is aimed at American writers, because he has been resident in the U.S. for over ten years.

McCann was honored Sunday night at a reception in Manhattan at the residence of Consul General Niall Burgess.