Unaware of the decision, owners of the Ballymore Inn Georgina and Barry O'Sullivan were stunned to discover their premises had made it into the 2010 dining guide – and was the only Kildare premises to be featured.

The guide praised the well-known pub for its "pleasant staff, spacious dining area and Parisian brasserie feel".

Judges were impressed with the menu promoting small artisan producers. The pub's generous portions also found favour with the inspectors, who gave the delicious bread and homemade tarts the thumbs up, recommending that diners should sample them.

According to Georgina, the inspectors arrived last March but it wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that she learned it had successfully landed a place in the well-heeded guide.

"You read a lot about the Michelin Guide and when you meet one of the inspectors it's like meeting God. Obviously they don't identify themselves but they came back the next day to interview us."

The process was all very formal, serious and focused she recalls with no feedback or critique offered by the inspectors. "You are not going to get a free consultation," she acknowledges. "They wanted to know things like the length of time you are in business and who your chef is. They are very conscious of that because if your chef leaves then does the good food go too? An owner managing chef is very important to them."

Once on the list Georgina recognises the hard work that will be involved in staying on it for successive guides as updated versions appear every year.

"If you're in then that means someone else is off. You have to fight for your place to be kept. It'll keep us driving forward in difficult times and maintaining our standards."

The Ballymore Inn was bought by the O'Sullivans 15 years ago and currently employs 40 people. Before they took it over it was simply a drinking pub but they carefully refurbished the premises drawing their inspiration from places with well-defined restaurant traditions such as Paris and New York, said Georgina.