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 24 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                                                   24th JUNE, 2003



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

Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. ("AIB") (NYSE:AIB) announces that on 23rd June 2003,
it purchased 1,125,000 of its ordinary shares, at an average price of EUR13.011,
to be held as treasury shares.


                                     -ENDS-



For further information please contact:

Alan Kelly                                       Catherine Burke
Head of 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: 24 June, 2003                            By: ___________________
                                                   Gary Kennedy
                                                   Group Director, Finance,
                                                   Risk and Enterprise
                                                   Technology
                                                   Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c.