A shark was spotted swimming in the water near a scenic Irish seaside town at the weekend.

Sailing instructor Kerri-Ann Boylan (22) was just finished teaching a lesson to young children in Skerries, Dublin on Sunday at around 4.30pm when the startled group spotted a shark nearby.

Kerri-Ann Boylan told Independent.ie: "I had a rib full of kids and all their Opti’s (dinghies) attached all around as I was approaching the slipway, I was about to get all my kids to jump out of my boat and swim in with their boats to shore.

"Then we saw the shark cross the front of my boat."

Kerri-Anne managed to capture footage of the shark swimming in the shallow water near the slipway, with its fin clearly visible in her video.

She said: "As soon as I saw it we all stopped for a minute and reacted to it and had a good gawk.

"Luckily I was quick enough with my phone to get the video and just caught it swimming away.

"It was in about two feet of water just off the slipway in Skerries Harbour.

"I’ve always been told growing up and sailing around Ireland that the only sharks we have are basking sharks and they are harmless."

While being so close to a shark might terrify some people, Kerri-Ann said the kids were thrilled to spot it.

She said: "I was delighted the kids where at the prime position to see it at the front of the boat at the time, as it’ll be something they’ll never forget!

"They where all so so so excited after.

"I went back out to tow in two more kids had a look around for it but it was long gone."

She also said that she was anticipating her first brush with the big fish for a while but didn't expect it to happen in Ireland.

She explained: "I’ve raced in Australia sailing where our sailing course instructor had spotted a few hammerheads.

"Also, having spent the past three summers coaching sailing in the States around the Cape Cod area in Massachusetts - including Martha’s Vineyard, where jaws was filmed.

"I'm also just back from coaching for the summer in Nantucket, where it’s full of great whites.

"I was amazed that the first shark I’ve seen was off the slipway in Skerries."