"When I first heard the unofficial results at 10pm last Sunday night I was ecstatic, " said Claire O'Riordan, who works with the American not-for-profit organisation ORT (Organisation for Educational Resources and Technological Training).

"I was so emotional that I called my father on the mobile phone and held it up to the fireworks and gun shots that were going off outside my window and shouted 'Can you hear that? We are independent!' down the phone."

There were jubilant scenes across much of the world's newest country when the narrow referendum result became known last Sunday.

The result is set to erase the last vestige of the former Yugoslavia now that Montenegro has decided to secede from Serbia.

O'Riordan, from Rosslare Strand in Wexford, has been living in Montenegro since November 2002 and is now living there permanently having married a local man.

According to the Irish consulate in Belgrade, there are four Irish people living permanently in Montenegro, with a growing number of Irish people buying holiday homes in the sun-kissed resorts along the Adriatic coast.

"For the first few days after the referendum, everyone in the country was exhausted . . . both physically and emotionally, " explained O'Riordan.

"As the margin for independence was very narrow, the celebrations of the pro-independence population have been quite muted, as almost half the country is not celebrating with them.

"There have been no wild scenes of joy in the capital since Sunday night. An atmosphere of uneasy calm prevails. Although the international community sees the result as a fait accompli, the official and final result has yet to be announced by the Montenegrin Republic Electoral Commission.

"It is also expected that the prounion block will fight hard against independence being proclaimed, through filing complaints and appeals. However, these are largely thought to be groundless."

O'Riordan senses that there is a sense of hope and confidence in the country and gaining membership of the EU is "the one dream that unites the country."

Heading up the ORT organisation in Montenegro, O'Riordan is in charge of the Montenegro Advocacy programme that strives to change laws and impact on public policy.

The head of the country's electoral commission said 55.4% of voters had voted to break away from Serbia, just above the 55% required for victory.

O'Riordan concluded, "I love living here. The pace of life is not too stressful, the weather is glorious, and after living in Ireland, this place is much cheaper.

"Whereas my salary wouldn't go far in Ireland today, myself and my husband have an excellent standard of living on what we both earn.

I speak the language too, which makes life easier."

Meanwhile, as the Irish consulate for Serbia and Montenegro is based in the Serbian capital Belgrade, it has yet to be decided if the Irish government will establish another consulate in the world's newest country.

Speaking to the Sunday Tribune, Ann Pesic of the Irish consulate in Belgrade said, "So far there have been no plans to open another consulate in Montenegro but these are early days."