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 August, 2006 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- ________ For Immediate Release 24th August 2006 AIB ANNOUNCES SALE AND LEASEBACK OF 12 DUBLIN BRANCHES Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. ("AIB") (NYSE: AIB) has today announced the sale and leaseback of 12 of its Dublin Branches through advisers Hamilton Osborne King. All of the buildings will be leased back to AIB and continue to operate as branches. AIB's sale and leaseback of a number of its premises, including its Head Office building in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, enables the bank to free up capital and use it to support continuing strong customer loan demand. The 12 branches to be sold and leased back to the bank are: Artane Dundrum Clonskeagh Road Dun Laoghaire Crumlin Road 37/38 O'Connell Street Dame Street Ranelagh Morehampton Road, Donnybrook Stillorgan Drumcondra Tallaght -Ends- For further information please contact: Alan Kelly Maurice Tracey General Manager, Group Finance Group Investor Relations Manager AIB Group AIB Group Bankcentre Bankcentre Ballsbridge Ballsbridge Dublin 4 Dublin 4 Tel: +353-1-6600311 ext. 12162 Tel: +353-1-6600311 ext. 14191 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 August, 2006 By: ___________________ John O'Donnell Group Director, Finance, Risk and Enterprise Technology Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c.