EXHIBIT 99.1


News
For Immediate Release                                 SILGAN HOLDINGS INC.
                                                      4 Landmark Square
                                                      Suite 400
                                                      Stamford, CT  06901

                                                      Telephone: (203) 975-7110
                                                      Fax:       (203) 975-7902


                                                          Contact:
                                                          Anthony J. Allott
                                                          (203) 406-3160




              ALLOTT TO BE NAMED PRESIDENT OF SILGAN HOLDINGS INC.


STAMFORD,  CT, May 10, 2004 -- Silgan  Holdings  Inc.  (Nasdaq:SLGN),  a leading
supplier of consumer goods  packaging  products,  today announced the Company is
initiating a search for a new Chief Financial  Officer.  Their current Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,  Anthony J. Allott, will be promoted
to President upon  successful  conclusion of the search  process.  The Company's
current  President,  D. Greg Horrigan,  will become Co-Chairman of the Board and
continue in the Co-CEO role with R. Philip Silver, Silgan's current Chairman.

Silver  and  Horrigan  said,  "We have been  advising  for some time that we are
working to insure the next  generation of management  throughout  Silgan.  These
changes  are an  important  step in that  effort  and  recognize  Tony  Allott's
outstanding contribution in his tenure at Silgan. This promotion will allow Tony
the opportunity to spend more time on operating matters, as well as continue his
participation  in the  collaborative  Executive  Office  process that has been a
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SILGAN HOLDINGS
May 10, 2004
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of Silgan  Holdings  since we founded it  seventeen  years ago.  The  operations
executives will continue to report to this Executive Office."

The exact timing of these changes will be tied to the  successful  conclusion of
the Chief Financial Officer search process.

                                      * * *

Silgan  Holdings is a leading  North  American  manufacturer  of consumer  goods
packaging  products  with annual  sales of  approximately  $2.3 billion in 2003.
Silgan  operates 60  manufacturing  facilities in the U.S. and Canada.  In North
America,  the  Company is the  largest  supplier  of metal  containers  for food
products and a leading supplier of plastic containers for personal care products
and of metal and plastic closures for food and beverage products.

Statements  included in this press  release which are not  historical  facts are
forward looking  statements  made pursuant to the safe harbor  provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934.  Such  forward  looking  statements  are made based  upon  management's
expectations  and beliefs  concerning  future  events  impacting the Company and
therefore  involve a number  of  uncertainties  and  risks,  including,  but not
limited to, those described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2003
and other filings with the Securities and Exchange  Commission.  Therefore,  the
actual results of operations or financial  condition of the Company could differ
materially from those expressed or implied in such forward looking statements.

                                      * * *