Sinn Féin view: Sinn Féin Dáil deputy Mr Martin Ferris said yesterday the outcome of the Northern Ireland election signalled "a major sea change in the politics of the six counties".
Speaking at the annual Kilmichael ambush commemoration in west Cork, Mr Ferris said the North's future lay in unionists and nationalists working together.
"To unionists, we say, work with us to create an island of which all our people can be proud.
"I have no doubt many of them have already come to the recognition that the future lies in an all-Ireland democracy.
"To create such an entity will require hard work and compromise on all of our parts, but I am convinced that this is not only possible, but that it will happen, and that day is not far off."
An all-Ireland democracy "does not mean, and has never meant, that those of the unionist tradition have to surrender any of their traditions and rights.
"It merely means that those rights are better protected and guaranteed under a sovereign Irish democracy."
The Kerry deputy spent the past three weeks canvassing in Northern Ireland.
Referring to the SDLP's reduced vote, Mr Ferris said: "People like John Hume played a huge role in building the peace process. However, I do believe that there is a certain arrogance on the part of people who seem to believe that Hume's role entitles the SDLP to the everlasting gratitude and allegiance of the nationalists of the six counties."
The annual Kilmichael commemoration celebrates the victory of republican Tom Barry in a confrontation with the British forces.
Mr Ferris also criticised Mr Conor Cruise O'Brien, who wrote in yesterday's Sunday Independent that he would reinforce the "Section 31" ban on Sinn Féin if he were minister for communications.
"We are one of the fastest-growing parties, and just watch us in June when the European and local elections take place, and then see if you would like to ban us off the airwaves," he said.