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 13 June, 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 07.00                                                     13 JUNE, 2003


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

Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. ("AIB") (NYSE:AIB) announces that on 12 June 2003, it
purchased 2,500,000 of its ordinary shares, at an average price of EUR12.511, 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  13 June 2003                             By: ___________________
                                                   Gary Kennedy
                                                   Group Director, Finance,
                                                   Risk and Enterprise
                                                   Technology
                                                   Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c.