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 21, 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                                                       21 MAY, 2003

               ALLIED IRISH BANKS, P.L.C. PURCHASE OF OWN SHARES

Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. ("AIB") (NYSE:AIB) announces that on 20 May 2003, it
purchased 945,000 of its ordinary shares, at an average price of EUR13.0792, 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 21, 2003                              By: ___________________
                                                    Gary Kennedy
                                                    Group Director, Finance,
                                                    Risk and Enterprise
                                                    Technology
                                                    Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c.