Director Shareholding

CRH PLC
23 March 2001


23rd March 2001



                                   CRH plc

                                 Rights Issue



CRH plc today announced the sale of some nil-paid rights by Directors and the
Company Secretary.

These sales have been made in order to part finance the take-up of rights at
Euro10.50 per share on 27th March 2001, in line with the undertaking given in
the Chairman's letter to shareholders dated 6th March 2001.

Following the take-up of rights, shareholdings of the individuals concerned
will have increased as follows:
                                     Shareholding            Shareholding

                                     at 6th March             post Rights

                                         2001                    Issue
Directors:
D. Godson                               429,383                 466,614
B.E. Griffin                            240,601                 275,465
B.G. Hill                               350,678                 381,548
W.I. O'Mahony                           320,637                 351,203
H.P. Sheridan                           666,369                 733,676

Company Secretary:
A. Malone                               16,531                  18,700