Acqn of 2 US Businesses

CRH PLC
21 June 2000

CRH ACQUIRES MATERIALS BUSINESSES IN NEW YORK AND OHIO 
FOR EURO 179.2 MILLION

CRH plc, the international building materials group, announces two
acquisitions by the Oldcastle Materials Group.   The Dolomite Group and
Northern Ohio Paving Company have been acquired for a combined cash
consideration, including debt/cash assumed, of US$160 million (euro 166.7
million),  plus deferred payments with a net present cost of US$12 million
(euro 12.5 million).  Goodwill of approximately US$6 million (euro 6.3
million) arises on these acquisitions.  

In 1999, Dolomite and Northern Ohio Paving reported combined sales of US$131
million, while adjusted trading profits before depreciation for the two
businesses amounted to US$29 million. Combined depreciation for the year was
US$6 million. 
 
Commenting on the acquisitions, Tom Hill, Chief Executive of the Oldcastle
Materials Group, said: 'These two deals are very much in line with the ongoing
development strategy of the Materials Group to build on existing regional
platforms.  Dolomite strengthens the Group's existing strong position in New
York State, while Northern Ohio Paving is an excellent fit for The Shelly
Company which was acquired for US$350 million in February this year.'

Dolomite Group
Dolomite, founded in 1920, is an integrated aggregates, asphalt and readymixed
concrete producer based in Rochester, New York; the company also operates a
significant materials distribution business. Dolomite owns approximately 320
million tons of well-located permitted reserves in the Rochester area and
operates eight quarries, two sand and gravel sites, 13 asphalt plants at eight
locations and six readymixed concrete plants.  In 1999, Dolomite produced 4.7
million tons of aggregates, 1.3 million tons of asphalt and 0.4 million cubic
yards of readymixed concrete. 

The acquisition of Dolomite extends the operations of the Oldcastle Materials
Group into western New York State. The Rochester area, with a population of
approximately 1 million people, boasts a highly educated workforce and a
diversified economy which has experienced solid growth in recent years.   
While growth in overall construction activity is expected to be flat in the
medium term, forecast increases in highway activity in the region are
underpinned by increased federal spending allocated in TEA 21.   

Dolomite's existing management team will continue to operate the business as a
separate division, reporting to Chris Madden, President of Oldcastle
Materials' New York State Group.

Northern Ohio Paving Company
Northern Ohio Paving is an integrated aggregates, asphalt and paving
contractor which was established in 1954 and is headquartered in Twinsburg in
northeastern Ohio.   The company has long-term access to almost 60 million
tons of strategically located high quality permitted aggregate reserves and
operates two crushing facilities and three asphalt plants at a total of three
locations. In 1999, Northern Ohio Paving produced 0.9 million tons of
aggregates and 0.8 million tons of asphalt. 

When the Oldcastle Materials Group acquired The Shelly Company earlier this
year,  a number of add-on opportunities in the growing and fragmented Ohio
materials market were identified by the Group.  Northern Ohio Paving is the
first such add-on by Shelly since acquisition by CRH and extends the
geographical coverage of Shelly's operations into northeastern Ohio.

The Northern Ohio Paving management team will remain following acquisition,
reporting to Mark Shelly, President of The Shelly Company.


Contact CRH at Dublin 404 1000 ([phone])

Liam O'Mahony, Chief Executive        
Harry Sheridan, Finance Director          
Myles Lee, General Manager-Finance

       
CRH plc, Belgard Castle, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, Ireland  
TELEPHONE [phone]  FAX [phone]
E-MAIL [e-mail] WEBSITE www.crh.ie  
Registered Office, 42 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2, Ireland