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 27 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                                                    27th JUNE, 2003


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

Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c.  ("AIB") (NYSE:AIB) announces that on 26th June 2003,
it  purchased  2,048,000  of  its  ordinary  shares,  at  an  average  price  of
EUR13.1751, 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  27 June 2003                             By: ___________________
                                                   Gary Kennedy
                                                   Group Director, Finance,
                                                   Risk and Enterprise
                                                   Technology
                                                   Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c.