Sinn Féin Leader Gerry Adams has commended all those involved in the 'United Ireland - You Decide' initiative, which saw the first ever People’s Referendum on Irish Unity in the electoral wards of Creggan Upper, County Louth and Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
The exercise, which involved independent presiding officials and international observers, saw over 1,000 people casting a vote; over 92% of them voting in favour of Irish Unity.

Gerry Adams said: "I want to commend all those voted and who participated in the United Ireland - You Decide initiative. It has given ordinary people a chance to make their voices heard on the difficulties caused to their communities by partition". And he added: "It has also clearly demonstrated the strong desire that exists for a united Ireland. Over 1,000 people have voted in the first ever People’s Referendum on Irish Unity. 92% voted in favour of a united Ireland".

Sinn Féin - said Adams "is seeking a Border Poll on the issue of Irish unity and this local exercise has been an important contribution to that debate. A debate on Irish unity and the type of agreed Ireland people wish to create for the future has now begun."

Crossmaglen was dubbed the bandit country during the years of the conflict. It has always been an important republican stronghold and paid a huge prize in the fight for Irish freedom from British occupation. Indeed as local people recall "You’re being posted to Crossmaglen..." were the words every British solider didn't want to hear, for this was no ordinary posting. Crossmaglen was the most feared overseas out-post in a foreign land in British history. At no time did any British troops feel safe in what came to be known as "bandit country" and at the ‘heart of bandit’ country was Crossmaglen. However this didn't mean they were safe, as helicopters soon started to fall as well, but the biggest fear was one they could do nothing about. As locals recall "The Armagh sniper was deadly [accurate] and claimed the lives of many troops but most of all put the fear of god in every British solider every time they walked the streets of our land".

As part of the demilitarisation program under the Good Friday Agreement, the British government lived up to their commitment and pulled their war machine out of Crossmaglen only in 2007, nine years after the Good Friday Agreement was signed.