8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 31, 2008

Shire plc

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

England and Wales

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

0-29630                                                  98-0484822

(Commission File Number)                (IRS Employer Identification No.)

Hampshire International Business Park, Chineham, Basingstoke,

Hampshire RG24 8EP England

 (Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code               44 1256 894 000

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2.):

[  ]	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01.  Other Events

     Shire plc has issued the press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.01 which is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

                  (d)  Exhibits.  The following exhibit is filed herewith:

99.01                Press Release dated March 31, 2008

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant  has duly caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

SHIRE PLC
By:	/s/ A C Russell
	Name: Angus Russell
	Title:  Chief Financial Officer

Dated: March 31, 2008

EXHIBIT INDEX
Number	Description
99.01	Press Release dated March 31, 2008

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.01

Hampshire International Business Park Chineham  Basingstoke Hampshire RG24 8EP United Kingdom Tel +44 (0)1256 894000 Fax +44 (0)1256 894708 www.shire.com
Press Release

Basingstoke, UK and Philadelphia, US – March 31, 2008 – Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces that on March 28, 2008 as part of the Company’s annual awards, Matthew Emmens was granted the following awards under the Shire plc Portfolio Share Plan (the “Plan”).

Awards of Stock Settled Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) under Part A of the Plan

Type of Security	No. of ADRs	Exercise Price
ADR	35,126	$58.51

The SARs will vest after three years, subject to the performance target being satisfied. No consideration will be paid for the grant of the SARs.

Performance Share Awards (“PSP Awards”) under part B of the Plan

Type of Security	No. of ADRs	Market value
ADR	26,345	$58.51

The PSP Awards will vest after three years, subject to the performance target being satisfied. Once vested, sufficient ADRs will be transferred or allotted to the participant within 30 days.  No consideration will be paid for the grant of the PSP Awards.

These awards are granted under Matthew Emmens’ contract as Chief Executive Officer and represent his final grant as Chief Executive Officer prior to him becoming Chair.

This notification relates to disclosures made in accordance with 3.1.4(R)(1)(a)of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

For further information please contact:

Investor Relations	Cléa Rosenfeld (Rest of the World)	+44 1256 894 160
	Eric Rojas (North America)	+1 484 595 8252

Registered in England 5492592  Registered Office as above

Notes to editors

SHIRE PLC

Shire’s strategic goal is to become the leading specialty biopharmaceutical company that focuses on meeting the needs of the specialist physician.  Shire focuses its business on attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), human genetic therapies (HGT), gastrointestinal (GI) and renal diseases. The structure is sufficiently flexible to allow Shire to target new therapeutic areas to the extent opportunities arise through acquisitions.  Shire’s in-licensing, merger and acquisition efforts are focused on products in niche markets with strong intellectual property protection either in the US or Europe.  Shire believes that a carefully selected portfolio of products with strategically aligned and relatively small-scale sales forces will deliver strong results.

For further information on Shire, please visit the Company’s website: www.shire.com.

Registered in England 5492592  Registered Office as above