Strade Dominican Friary, National Monument No. 172. The abbey at Strade dates to the mid-13th century, when it first started as a Franciscan Friary, established by the Lord of Athlethan (Ballylahan), Jordan de Exeter. The Dominican friars moved into Strade in 1253. The priory was dedicated to the Holy Cross & was a daughter house of Sligo Dominican priory (SL014-068008-). A papal indulgence granted in 1434 may have resulted in a rebuilding phase of the church. The carving of the vulning pelican (from the Latin vulnerō, “to wound”) on the north wall of the crossing tower of the friary church dates from the 15th-century. In Medieval Christianity, the pelican feeding its young with its own blood was a symbol for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross & the Eucharist. Also known as the Pelican in Her Piety, the bird piercing it's breast to shed blood is an allegory of Christ on the Cross, a symbol of the Passion of Christ. Archaeological Survey of Ireland description at: https://tinyurl.com/mumyk56y