Publication of Prospectus and Circular

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN, CANADA OR SWITZERLAND OR ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

The Governor & Company of the Bank of Ireland

Further to the announcement earlier today from The Governor & Company of the Bank of Ireland ("the Bank") that it is proceeding with proposals intended to meet its current and long term capital requirements, the Bank announces that a prospectus relating to the Proposals ("the Prospectus") was today approved by the Irish Financial Regulator, as competent authority under the Prospectus Directive.

A shareholder circular, including a notice convening an Extraordinary General Court of the Bank to be held at 11.00 a.m. on 19 May 2010 at the O'Reilly Hall, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, was today approved by the Irish Stock Exchange and the UK Financial Services Authority under their respective Listing Rules and is being published and posted to Stockholders today. 

Copies of each of the Prospectus and the Circular will be available on request in hard copy free of charge from the Bank's registered office (Bank of Ireland, A Block, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2) and on the Bank of Ireland website at www.bankofireland.com.

A copy of the Prospectus and the Circular will also shortly be available for inspection at the following locations:

Company Announcements Office,

Irish Stock Exchange,

28 Anglesea Street,

Dublin 2,

Ireland.

Tel: + 353 1 6174200

Financial Services Authority,

25 The North Colonnade,

Canary Wharf,

London E14 5HS,

United Kingdom.

Tel: + 44 207 066 1000.

Application has been made to the Irish Stock Exchange and the UK Listing Authority for the NPRFC Coupon Ordinary Stock to be admitted to the Official Lists and application has been made to the Irish Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange for the NPRFC Coupon Ordinary Stock to be admitted to trading on their respective regulated markets for listed securities. It is expected that such admission will become effective in respect of, and that dealings will be capable of commencing in, the NPRFC Coupon Ordinary Stock on 27 April 2010.

All capitalised/defined terms in this announcement have the same meaning as those contained in the Prospectus

Ends.

For further information please contact: