Mark Sheehan, guitarist for Irish pop band The Script, has died aged 46 after a brief illness, the band announced on social media.
In a statement on their social media pages, the band said: “Much loved husband, father, brother, band mate and friend Mark Sheehan passed away today in hospital after a brief illness.
“The family and group ask fans to respect their privacy at this tragic time.”
Much loved husband, father, brother, band mate and friend Mark Sheehan passed away today in hospital after a brief illness. The family and group ask fans to respect their privacy at this tragic time. pic.twitter.com/x9hM4byVT9
— the script (@thescript) April 14, 2023
The guitarist was married to Rina Sheehan and they had three children together.
Sheehan grew up with bandmate and Script leadsinger Danny O’Donoghue in Dublin where they played together in boybands before moving to the US working with Britney Spears and TLC before moving back to Ireland to form the Script.
Last May, O’Donoghue told the Sunday World Sheehan had missed the American leg of their greatest hits tour to be with his family.
“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,” O’Donoghue told the Irish paper.
“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.”
The Script are scheduled to support the American artist P!nk during her European tour later this year.
Among those paying tribute were fellow Irish rockers Kodaline who said: “We had the great fortune of getting to spend time in his company over the years and was always such a lovely man!”
So sorry to hear the passing of Mark Sheehan! We had the great fortune of getting to spend time in his company over the years and was always such a lovely man! Deepest condolences to his family and his @thescript brothers
— Kodaline (@Kodaline) April 14, 2023
In a statement posted on Instagram, Irish presenter Laura Whitmore wrote: “Thinking of you all at this time.
“Mark was one of the nicest and most talented men you could meet.”
In their own Instagram tribute, Irish pop duo Jedward said: “Everyone in the Irish music industry and worldwide mourn your loss RIP Mark such a talented musician from The Script one of the most iconic Irish groups of our generation.”
The Script were formed in Dublin in 2001. Their eponymous debut album was released in 2008 and it went to number one in both the UK and Ireland.
The band, whose hits include For the First Time, sold millions of albums and gained further exposure when O’Donoghue appeared as a coach on the first two series of the television singing talent show The Voice UK.
