Mark Sheehan, Guitarist of Irish Pop Band The Script, Dies at 46

Mark Sheehan, the guitarist of Irish pop band the Script, has died at the age of 46 after a brief illness. Sheehan co-founded the band with lead vocalist Danny O'Donoghue and drummer Glen Power in 2001.

The group announced Sheehan's passing on their social media pages and requested that fans respect their privacy during this difficult time. Sheehan was a husband, father of three, brother, bandmate, and friend who was deeply loved. He was married to Reena Sheehan, whom he met while she was working as a session singer.

Last year, Sheehan missed the US leg of the band's tour to spend time with his family, and O'Donoghue expressed his support for Sheehan's decision, stating that the band was like a family that sticks together through thick and thin. Sheehan later returned to play a few shows in Ireland with the group. The Script is set to perform as Pink's opening act in the UK and Europe this summer.

O'Donoghue and Sheehan were childhood best friends and grew up together in Dublin. The Script's eponymous debut album, which featured hits such as "We Cry," "Breakeven," and "The Man Who Can't Be Moved," reached number one in both the UK and Ireland in 2008. Between 2010 and 2019, the band achieved more UK No. 1 albums than any other Irish artist.

Celebrities from the music industry, including Brian McFadden, Mikey Graham, Laura Whitmore, and Ryan Tedder, have paid tribute to Sheehan.

The Irish culture minister, Catherine Martin, expressed her condolences to Sheehan's family, friends, and bandmates, stating that his death is a significant loss for the music industry and the Script's fans worldwide.