Boston Mayor Thomas Menino paid a special tribute to the Irish who helped in the aftermath of last month’s marathon bombings, in which three people were killed and over 260 injured.

Mayor Menino said the city of Boston was able to recover due to the support of “our friends from around the world, especially our Irish ones."

The message was sent by the city’s longest serving Mayor to the people of Drogheda, Co. Louth, after they held a special Mass on May 5th, dedicated to the victims of the bombings, the Irish Daily Star reports.

Drogheda Mayor Paul Bell read out the statement from the Massachusetts Mayor during the mass in the Augustinian Church in the center of the town.

Mayor Menino said: “I thank you for your prayers and for standing side by side with the city of Boston.”

“Our city was knocked down but we got up quickly, not just because of the strength and unity of our people, but also because of the support and love of our friends from around the world, especially our Irish ones.”

The mass was organized by Father Iggy O’Donovan and the John Boyle O’Reilly Society. Father O’Donovan was in Boston at the time of the bombings.

The John Boyle O’Reilly Society is named after a 19th century poet from Co. Louth who immigrated to the U.S. and worked as a reporter at the Boston Pilot, now known as the Boston Globe.

Richie Culhane, the chairman of the society, said it was important to recognize the special relationship that exists between Boston and Drogheda.

He said the mass remembered those who lost their lives and their families, as well as those who suffered horrendous injuries.