Set in the Harris village of Scadabhagh, the novel charts the day-long journey of Neil Macleod, who has a fine job with the government, and whose life is an apparent success.

But when his world takes a dramatic turn, he sets about returning to his homeland, on what is ultimately a journey of discovery and rebirth.

The attendance at Friday's launch was testament to Macintyre's popularity as a writer, and coupled with musical performances from Irish visitors Maighread ni Fhlatharta and Con Durham, as well as pupils of Sir E. Scott School, the evening was an unmitigated success.

A delighted Martin Macintrye told the 'Gazette': "I was absolutely delighted the launch. There was a great turnout on what was a very busy night in Harris with a dance and wedding happening simultaneously in Tarbert.

"People expressed interest in the book and its central character Niall MacLeoid from Scadabhagh and in the Ur-Sgeul series generally.

"The music from the touring Irish visitors, the young Hearaich and then informally from Domhnall Shaim and Morag NicLeoid really added to the experience. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all who worked so hard to make the event a success and for extending such a warm, genuine welcome, and special thanks to Calum MacKay and Joina MacDonald."

Martin said that the feedback received on the night was that more events like this might be held in Leacleei and in other smaller community halls throughout the Gaidhealtachd.

He said that Comhairle nan Leabhraichean had also been praised for venturing out of the Central Belt and investing time, energy and resources in Harris.

His decision to base his new central character in Harris, he said, was a new challenge after his last novel, 'Gymnippers Diciadain', which had a central character from South Uist.

"When I began to 'get to know' 58 year old Niall MacLeod - a former successful diplomat in Surrey and abroad, and especially when I began to hear him speaking in my head (the book is written in the first person) and then work back with him to his origins, Harris seemed to accord with my vision and what I was hearing," he said.

"Leaclee is as close as you can get to Scadabhagh, but actually since the book and all its characters are of course totally fictional it's probably appropriate that even that small distance from the supposed birthplace of the character was maintained."

In total, the book took three years from conception to fruition, from day one on the Longest Day (21 June) 2005 until the book was first launched at the Edinburgh Book Festival in August.

"I think it needed that time to fully develop and to be crafted and honed," said Martin.

"I feel it is a stronger book as a result. I had a good idea of what would happen from hour to hour and tried to strike a balance between internal reflection on Niall's past and present circumstances and a mix of interesting characters, events, twists which challenge him on the day itself. I didn't anticipate the ending until quite late on and I tried to challenge it for various reasons- but it won me over."

For the future, Martin is just about to commence a new Gaelic novel which will again explore new territory, but, he jokes, with a more open time frame than one day!

He added: "The question of English translation of the Ur-Sgeul series has come up on various occasions since its inception in 2003. Personally I think this series owes much of its success and high regard to the scrupulous, assiduous way in which Comhairle nan Leabhraichean has supported Gaelic writing, in Gaelic, and provided for the first time a range of attractive contemporary works of fiction for readers in their own language.

"I also see enhanced Gaelic literacy skills as a crucial element in the on-going development of the language. Any translation plans would have to bolster this effort and in no way undermine it.

"I've just finished Basque writer Bernardo Atxaga's superb novel 'The Accordionist's Son' and was delighted to get access to this work and its themes which would have been impossible if his novel hadn't first been translated into Spanish and then to English.

"Alasdair MacLeod's brilliant stories of Gaelic society in Cape Breton, Canada are translated into 17 languages world-wide. I think the time has now come (with the consent of the authors), to pilot some of the earlier works in the Ur-Sgeul series in English .

"This should not happen in an ad-hoc or arbitrary way but be carefully driven by The Gaelic Books Council, (who have proved themselves to be on top of their game with Ur-Sgeul) with the full backing of The Scottish Arts Council and Bord na Gaidhlig.

"Maybe one day Bernardo Atxaga will travel with Niall MacLeoid from Scadabhagh to Surrey on The Longest Day."