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Irish President Michael D Higgins has paid tribute to Script guitarist Mark Sheehan, who died following a short illness.
Sheehan, 46, who formed the band alongside frontman Danny O’Donoghue and drummer Glen Power, died Friday in hospital.
President Higgins praised The Script’s “originality and excellence” as he honored the memory of the late Breakeven star.
In a lengthy statement, he also hailed it as an “outstanding” example of Irish “musical success” on the world stage.
“Everyone who knew Mark Sheehan, and those millions of others who enjoyed and enjoyed his music, will have been deeply shocked to learn of his untimely death,” the president said.
“It was a sign of the originality and excellence that Mark and his band mates in The Script sought to see such worldwide success including six number one albums in the UK and one number three album in the UK. United States – a truly remarkable achievement .
“It was a great honor and privilege when I had the opportunity to host Mark and The Script when they performed at the Aras an Uachtarain in 2013 as part of my Glaoch – The President’s Call initiative, which celebrated Irish creativity and its reach and impact around the world.
“Through their music, Mark and The Script have played an outstanding role in continuing and promoting this proud tradition of Irish musical success around the world.
“While Mark will be missed by so many, it is his family who will obviously suffer the greatest loss. May I extend my deepest condolences to Mark’s wife Rina, his children Cameron, Avery and Lil, his bandmates in The Script and all of his family and friends.
The guitarist was married to Rina Sheehan and they had three children together.
A statement on the band’s social media pages earlier announced his death.
“Beloved husband, father, brother, bandmate and friend Mark Sheehan passed away in hospital today after a short illness,” she said.
“The family and group ask fans to respect their privacy at this tragic time.”
Script formed in Dublin in 2001.
Their self-titled debut album was released in 2008 and went to number one in both the UK and Ireland.
It included hits such as We Cry, Breakeven and The Man Who Can’t Be Moved, with the latter reaching number two in the UK singles charts.
The band has released six studio albums and one compilation project, Tales From The Script – Greatest Hits, released in 2021.
Six of these reached number one in the UK charts while their third album, number 3 went to number two.
Bands like Arctic Monkeys, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Kings Of Leon, Radiohead, Blur and Muse all have six records to their name, according to official charts.
Paying tribute to Sheehan, Irish rock band Kodaline said in a statement posted on Twitter: “So sorry to hear of the passing of Mark Sheehan.
“We have had the great fortune to spend time with him over the years and he has always been such a lovely man. Deepest condolences to his family and brothers @thescript.”
Other celebrities have also been quick to honor his memory on social media.
In a statement posted to Instagram, Irish presenter Laura Whitmore wrote: “Thinking of you all right now.
“Mark was one of the nicest and most talented men you could meet.”
In June 2013, the late Queen visited the BBC’s Broadcasting House in central London and listened to a live performance of The Script.
Finally, she chatted briefly with singer O’Donoghue, and when she heard he was playing Glastonbury Festival, she joked about mud.
She said, “Glastonbury, the place you get covered in mud?”
The singer replied with a laugh: “You have to bring some good rubber boots.”
Sheehan later said that when he was told about the royal engagement he thought it was a joke.
“Even today, coming today, I thought people were playing a joke on us,” she said.
In May 2022, O’Donoghue told the Sunday World that Sheehan had missed the US leg of their greatest hits tour to be with his family.
The Script will support American recording artist P!nk on her European tour later this year.
