Employee Benefit Trust

CRH PLC
17 May 2007


                            17th May 2007


                             PURCHASE OF SHARES BY
               THE TRUSTEES OF THE CRH plc EMPLOYEE BENEFIT TRUST


The Trustees of the CRH plc Employee Benefit Trust purchased 62,656 Ordinary
Shares of €0.32 each in CRH plc on 16th May 2007 at an average price of
€34.62104 per Ordinary Share for the purpose of satisfying the requirement for
shares on exercise of options under the Company's Share Option Schemes.

Contact

Neil Colgan
Assistant Company Secretary
Tel: [phone]

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