THEY have spread to the four corners of the world over a period of centuries and next year hundreds will descend on France for an Irish family reunion to end them all.

The O'Neill clan is now advertising for one of the most organised family get-togethers possibly ever seen.

Next June at the Irish embassy in Paris, a special reception will mark the international convention of the clan with a series of meetings planned to organise cooperation on the future of a global family.

And with unknown numbers hailing from the US, Australia, the Caribbean, France, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Holland and, of course, Ireland, this could be a truly multi-lingual Irish session.

"A couple of years ago Hugo O'Neill, who is chief of the Clanaboy O'Neills, had a meeting in Portugal," said Seán O'Neill from Dublin, explaining the roots of the mass conference.

"My father and I were the only Irish representatives there. Now we have got to the point where some people have put some money together to build a website to try and gather people together to have a meeting.

"It is to try and build a network, first of all to preserve the heritage of the O'Neills and some of the castles and monuments related to them around the country which have fallen into disrepair."

The www.oneillclans.com site offers links to the reunion which is planned for next June. During the event, the Association of O'Neill Clans will be formally launched.

"After Cromwell there is a whole history of people leaving Ireland," said O'Neill, who is currently looking for assistance in organising the Irish end of things. A lot of them went to the Caribbean with the Spanish and there is a huge amount in Florida.

"The Irish aren't as interested in their genealogy because they seem quite comfortable with where they come from, but for people abroad there is more interest. The main attraction next year will be the reception in the Irish embassy in Paris."

Interested family members can contact sean@oneill.ie.