'Much-loved husband, father, brother, band mate': Tributes pour in after The Script guitarist Mark Sheehan dies aged 46

14 April 2023, 19:08 | Updated: 14 April 2023, 22:41

By Kieran Kelly

@kellyjourno

Mark Sheehan, guitarist for Irish rock band The Script, has died after a brief illness, the band has announced on social media.

Sheehan, who formed the band alongside frontman Danny O'Donoghue and drummer Glen Power in 2001, died in hospital.

"Much loved husband, father, brother, band mate and friend Mark Sheehan passed away today in hospital after a brief illness," the band tweeted.

"The family and group ask fans to respect their privacy at this tragic time."

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The Script are an Irish rock band that formed in 2001, with O'Donoghue on vocals, Power on drums and Sheehan on lead guitar.

The band's first album, named The Script, peaked at Number One in the UK and Ireland.

They have since gone on to sell millions of records worldwide, securing two Brit nominations, three Meteor Ireland Music Awards and two World Music Awards.

They were due to perform next in June as the support act for P!nk in Manchester, Birmingham and Sunderland.

The band was also set to perform before Take That's London show on July 1.

Last year, Sheehan did not play with the rest of the band while they were on tour, with O'Donoghue saying this was due to family commitments.

At the time, O'Donoghue told Sunday World: "It's his story to tell, but yeah, I guess if I could paraphrase, his children needed a father and his wife needed a husband.

"He's been the engine of The Script for such a long time, [I told him] that 'if you want to take a bit of time out for your family you are more than welcome to, and I insist on you going and doing it'.

"He took a little bit of time off. You get refreshed, then you come back with a new zest for life. And I believe it was the best thing that could have happened for all of us."

Tributes have been pouring in for the Irish rock star, including from Irish president Michael D Higgins.

"All those who knew Mark Sheehan, and those millions more who enjoyed and appreciated his music, will have been deeply shocked to hear of his too-early death," the president said.

"It was a mark of the originality and excellence that Mark and his bandmates in The Script sought that they saw such success across the world, including six number one albums in the UK and a number three album in the United States - a truly remarkable achievement.

"It was a great honour and a privilege when I had the opportunity of hosting Mark and The Script when they performed at Aras an Uachtarain in 2013 as part of my initiative Glaoch - The President's Call, which celebrated Irish creativity and its reach and impact across the world.

"Through their music, Mark and The Script have played an outstanding part in continuing and promoting this proud tradition of Irish musical success across the world.

"While Mark will be missed by so many, it is his family who will of course experience the greatest loss. May I extend my deepest sympathies to Mark's wife Rina, to his children Cameron, Avery and Lil, to his bandmates in The Script, and to all his family and friends."