Having secured its first Michelin star last month, a Galway city based restaurant has now achieved the title of Ireland's best restaurant.

Aniar, located on Lower Dominick Street, defeated stiff competition to win the accolade at the seventh annual National Hospitality Awards.

The result was another coup for owners JP McMahon and Drigin Gaffey, who have seen the restaurant go from strength to strength since it opened 14 months ago.

Mr McMahon says the key to the restaurant's success was "perseverance" despite the difficult economic climate.

All the food on the menu is sourced locally and diners enjoy being treated to the experience as well as the meal, he added.