UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 6-K Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the date of May 16, 2003 ALLIED IRISH BANKS, public limited company Bankcentre, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F. Form 20-F..X... Form 40-F..... Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes ..... No ..X... If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________ EMBARGO 7AM 16 MAY, 2003 ALLIED IRISH BANKS, P.L.C. PURCHASE OF OWN SHARES Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. ("AIB") (NYSE:AIB) announces that on 15 May 2003, it purchased 5,870,000 of its ordinary shares, at an average price of EUR13.7773, to be held as treasury shares. -ENDS- For further information please contact: Alan Kelly Catherine Burke Head of Capital & Group Investor Relations Head of Corporate Relations AIB Group AIB Group Bankcentre Bankcentre Ballsbridge Ballsbridge Dublin 4 Dublin 4 Tel: +353-1-6600311 ext. 12162 Tel: +353-1-6600311 ext. 13894 Signatures Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised. ALLIED IRISH BANKS, p.l.c. (Registrant) Date May 16, 2003 By: ___________________ Gary Kennedy Group Director, Finance, Risk and Enterprise Technology Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c