Breathtaking footage showed a school of large sharks swimming close to the shore in Skerries, North Dublin, today.
The video was filmed by two teenage cousins after spotting the shark fins moving through the waters in the harbour.
Speaking to Dublin Live, Nadine Bollard, 19, and her cousin Leah, also 19, got a real thrill when they spotted the large fins as they were sitting in the car outside the ice-cream shop where they work.
She said the huge fish were most likely basking sharks - adding that they’ve been making an appearance quite regularly in the area over the past few weeks.
Nadine said: “There were several swimming around the shore. It was quite a thrill to see.
“They were big enough - I’d say they were basking sharks as they’ve been spotted swimming around a lot lately. But to see them this close to shore was amazing."
The 19 year old, who works at popular Skerries Harbour ice-cream parlour Storm in a Teacup, said she and her cousin Leah were sitting in the car outside the shop when they spotted a large fin just down from the slipway.
She said: "It’s mad! We’re just on the harbour and we were just sitting in the car, waiting to go home after doing some deliveries, and we saw a fin just off the shore.
"Then we spotted another two sharks nearby, and another very big one a little further out in the harbour - you can see that one in the video as well."
She said that the sharks were at least two metres in length, adding: “Judging by the fins alone, they were quite big.
“It’s just mad to see them that close to shore.”
Basking sharks are often spotted in Irish waters, while blue sharks, porbeagle sharks, tope and small-spotted catsharks - also known as dogfish - are also common.
While seeing any type of shark this close to shore is a rarity, it isn't the first time Skerries locals have been treated to the jaw-dropping sight.
In 2017, Skerries sailing instructor Kerri-Ann Boylan managed to capture video footage of a large shark swimming in almost the same spot where Nadine and Leah spotted their new marine mates today.
Nadine and Leah, both 19, work for family business Storm in a Teacup, a Skerries ice-cream institution which also has shops in Drogheda and Blackrock, Co Louth.
If you happen to be in the picturesque seaside village, be sure to drop in for a delicious, handmade artisan ice cream or a delcious deluxe milkshake - they've just reopened their Skerries shop following lockdown and they have some great Fathers' Day hampers you can order from their website here.
