* FTSEurofirst 300 rises 0.4 pct * Energy shares advance as crude oil up on demand outlook * Concerns about peripheral euro zone countries persist * For up-to-the-minute market news, click on [STXNEWS/EU] By Atul Prakash LONDON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - European shares rose on Monday after losses in the previous three sessions, with euro zone trade figures supporting the market and firmer crude oil prices helping energy shares. Concerns about debt in peripheral euro zone countries eased after the Irish Independent newspaper said Ireland was considering asking for money for its banks from the European Union's emergency fund, in a bid to fend off the threat of a bailout for the state. At 1242 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top European shares was up 0.4 percent at 1,107.91 points after falling to a low of 1,095.76 earlier in the day. The index fell 0.7 percent last week, but is up 5.9 percent so far this year. Energy shares featured among the top gainers as crude prices CLc1 rose 0.9 percent on hopes that demand for oil will rise in countries such as China. BP (BP.L), Tullow Oil (TLW.L) and Repsol (REP.MC) added 1.2 to 1.5 percent. Investors kept a close eye on developments in peripheral euro zone countries, which witnessed a spike in the borrowing costs over the past weeks that raised new concerns about their ability to cut swollen deficits and debt without financial aid. "Every month you see some irritation coming from there," said Giuseppe-Guido Amato, strategist at Lang & Schwarz, in Frankfurt, referring to debt problems in peripheral euro zone members. "If the information flow calms down, then the market will be in a position to look at the other factors." "Investors are still sceptical about the macro picture, but they are convinced that the micro picture for the companies is improving." Dublin has not applied for EU debt assistance yet, but has not ruled out such a move. EU sources have said over the past two days that talks on a possible bailout were under way and that Ireland, with borrowing costs rocketing, was unlikely to hold out without assistance. [ID:nLDE6AE094] Irish banks were hard hit, with Allied Irish Banks (ALBK.I) falling 3.9 percent and Bank of Ireland (BKIR.I) down 4.9 percent. The Thomson Reuters Peripheral Eurozone Countries Index .TRXFLDPIPU was down 0.1 percent. "The main worry for the market is whether the sovereign debt crisis will flare out of control and whether it will be contained," Bernard McAlinden, investment strategist at NCB Stockbrokers in Dublin, said.

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