UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, DC 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): May 3, 2005



                               SILGAN HOLDINGS INC.
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               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


          Delaware                     000-22117                06-1269834
----------------------------          ------------          -------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction          (Commission              (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)               File Number)          Identification No.)


4 Landmark Square, Stamford, Connecticut                                 06901
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                              (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (203) 975-7110


                                      N/A
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          (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:


    [ ] 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))



                 Section 1--Registrant's Business and Operations

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On May 3, 2005, the Registrant  issued a press release  reporting that its Board
of  Directors  elected  Anthony  J.  Allott as Chief  Operating  Officer  of the
Registrant  effective  May 3, 2005.  In addition  to serving as Chief  Operating
Officer of the Registrant, Mr. Allott will continue to serve as President of the
Registrant. A copy of this press release is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

In connection with the election of Mr. Allott as Chief Operating  Officer of the
Registrant,  the  Compensation  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of the
Registrant approved an annual salary for Mr. Allott of $720,000,  representing a
$150,000 increase from the annual salary previously approved by the Compensation
Committee for Mr. Allott,  payable in accordance  with his employment  agreement
dated April 12, 2004.


                 Section 5--Corporate Governance and Management

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Principal Officers;  Election of Directors;
           Appointment of Principal Officers.

As set forth above, the Board of Directors of the Registrant  elected Anthony J.
Allott as Chief  Operating  Officer of the Registrant  effective May 3, 2005. In
addition to serving as Chief  Operating  Officer of the  Registrant,  Mr. Allott
will continue to serve as President of the Registrant.

Mr. Allott, age 40, has been President of the Registrant since August 2004. From
May 2002 until August 2004,  Mr. Allott was Executive  Vice  President and Chief
Financial Officer of the Registrant. Prior to joining the Registrant, Mr. Allott
was Senior  Vice  President  and Chief  Financial  Officer of Applied  Extrusion
Technologies, Inc., or AET, since July 1996. From July 1994 until July 1996, Mr.
Allott was Vice  President and Treasurer of AET. From 1992 until July 1994,  Mr.
Allott was Corporate  Controller  and Director of Financial  Reporting of Ground
Round  Restaurants.  Prior to that, Mr. Allott was a certified public accountant
with Deloitte & Touche LLP.

Mr. Allott  entered into an employment  agreement  with the  Registrant in April
2004. Mr.  Allott's  employment  agreement  provides for, among other things,  a
severance  benefit if Mr. Allott is terminated  without cause in an amount equal
to (i) the sum of his then  current  annual  salary plus (ii) his annual  bonus,
calculated at 30% of his then current annual salary.


                  Section 9--Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits

Exhibit No.                       Description
-----------                       -----------

99.1                  Press Release dated May 3, 2005.




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                                   SIGNATURES


     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.

                                  SILGAN HOLDINGS INC.


                                  By:   /s/ Frank W. Hogan, III               
                                        --------------------------------------
                                        Frank W. Hogan, III
                                        Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                                          and Secretary

Date: May 3, 2005







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                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS



Exhibit No.                               Description
-----------                               -----------

   99.1                         Press Release dated May 3, 2005.








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