There are always emotional highs at Glastonbury—but this one hit differently.
On Saturday, fans gathered at Worthy Farm witnessed more than just another powerful performance by The Script.
They were part of a heartfelt tribute to Mark Sheehan, the band’s late guitarist and co-founder, who passed away in 2023.
The moment reminded everyone that while music lives on, so do memories.
Danny O’Donoghue Gets Real About Grief on Stage
Midway through their set on the iconic Pyramid Stage, lead singer Danny O’Donoghue paused after singing their breakthrough hit The Man Who Can’t Be Moved.
Sitting at the edge of the stage, he took a quiet moment to speak directly to the crowd about the loss of his best friend and musical partner.
“There’s one person I wish more than anything was here to see this,” Danny said, his voice full of emotion.
“We lost my best mate and founding member of The Script, Mark Sheehan, nearly a year and a half ago.”
The crowd responded with warm cheers, clearly moved by the vulnerability.
Danny continued, “Thank you for keeping us going, for your thoughts and prayers.
I know he’s having a whiskey and watching us right now.”
He then dedicated their song If You Could See Me Now to Mark.
The Band That Started With Friendship
The roots of The Script go way back—long before the world knew their name.
Danny and Mark met when they were just 12 years old and started their first band, Mytown, in the ’90s.
By 2001, they joined forces with drummer Glen Power to create The Script in Dublin.
Mark quickly became the heart of the band, known not only for his guitar work but for his passion and drive.
Together, they wrote hits like Hall of Fame, We Cry, For The First Time, and of course, The Man Who Can’t Be Moved.
Over the years, they sold over 20 million records worldwide.
Mark’s Sudden Passing Left a Huge Void
Mark passed away in April 2023 at just 46 years old, following a brief illness.
The announcement, made via the band’s Facebook page, came just weeks after a tour date had been revealed, leaving fans in shock.
A devoted husband and father of three, Mark had been living in the U.S. with his wife Rina.
His death devastated not just his family and friends, but the millions of fans who followed The Script’s journey.
Danny Opens Up About His Own Struggles
In the year that followed, Danny didn’t shy away from talking about how deeply Mark’s passing affected him. “I went off the rails,” he admitted.
“Drinking, smoking—everything. I had a mental block. I was lost.”
Over Christmas 2023, back home in Ireland, Danny reached a breaking point. “I just said, ‘Enough is enough.’
I wanted to face the grief stone cold sober.” He gave up alcohol, smoking, caffeine—everything.
What started as a January detox stretched into May. “I feel better than I’ve felt in a long time.
Like the black cloud is finally lifting,” he said, hinting at the healing process behind the band’s upcoming music.
Glastonbury Carries On, But The Script Leaves Its Mark
While Glastonbury still had major performances lined up—including headliners Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo, as well as acts like Raye, The Libertines, and Noah Kahan—The Script’s performance left an emotional stamp on the weekend.
It wasn’t just about the music. It was about resilience, friendship, grief, and how fans help artists keep going when they’ve lost something irreplaceable.
And in Danny’s words, somewhere out there, Mark Sheehan is still with them—whiskey in hand, watching from above.