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 19 December, 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 19th December 2006 AIB completes sale of its stake in AIB/BNY Following on from the communication issued on 31st August, 2006, Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. ("AIB") (NYSE: AIB) announces that it has now completed the sale of its 50% stake in AIB/BNY Securities Services (Ireland) Ltd to The Bank of New York Company, Inc (BNY), having secured the required regulatory approvals. - ENDS - For further information please contact: Ronan Sheridan Alan Kelly Press Officer General Manager, Group Finance AIB Group AIB Group Bankcentre Bankcentre Ballsbridge Ballsbridge Dublin 4 Dublin 4 Tel: +353-1-6414651 Tel: +353-1-6412162 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 19 December, 2006 By: ___________________ John O'Donnell Group Director, Finance, Risk and Enterprise Technology Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c.