The music industry is mourning the loss of Mark Sheehan, the co-founder and guitarist of the Irish rock band, The Script, who passed away on Friday at the age of 46. Sheehan’s death came as a shock to the band’s fans, who had followed their music for more than two decades.

Sheehan was one of the founding members of The Script, along with vocalist Danny O’Donoghue and drummer Glen Power. The band was formed in Dublin in 2001 and rose to fame with their debut album, “The Script” in 2008. Their blend of rock, pop, and hip-hop sounds made them a hit with audiences worldwide, and they continued to release hit after hit, with six number one albums in the UK and a number three album in the United States.

The news of Sheehan’s death was announced by the band in a statement on their social media pages. The statement described him as a “much-loved husband, father, brother, bandmate, and friend,” and asked fans to respect the privacy of his family and bandmates during this difficult time.

Following the news of Sheehan’s death, many of his contemporaries in the entertainment industry paid tribute to him. Irish presenter Laura Whitmore shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, describing him as “one of the nicest and most talented men you could meet.” Irish pop duo Jedward also took to Instagram to mourn his loss, calling him “such a talented musician” and paying tribute to The Script as “one of the most iconic Irish groups of our generation.”

Fellow Irish rock band Kodaline also posted a message on Twitter, expressing their condolences to Sheehan’s family and The Script. Meanwhile, Ireland’s President Michael D Higgins praised Sheehan’s musical success and called him an “outstanding” example of Irish talent on the world stage.

Sheehan’s death is a tragic loss for the music industry, but his legacy will live on through The Script’s music. Fans around the world will continue to enjoy the band’s hits and remember the talented musician who helped create them.