The shark was spotted by a Swiss tourist at Kilmore Quay over the weekend. The species is thought to be harmless to humans.

Dr. Nicholas Payne, Assistant Professor at Trinity College’s School of Natural Sciences, was emailed by the tourist, and a team from the university travelled to take samples from the shark.

"Myself and my team quickly scrambled and drove down to Wexford and we made it just in time as the tide was coming in," he told the BBC.

"We had to rush to take as many measures and samples of the animal as possible before the tide took it out."

It is the second time in recent weeks that a specimen of the species has shown up in this part of the world – another washed up in England two weeks ago.