Overview:
Devotions in the Catholic Tradition

Devotions evolving historically and admitting of great pluralism depending on times, places, and people, have dotted the Catholic year and embellished private prayer. (see CCC#2684)

Devotions are “warmly commended” by Vatican II, but it is said that they “should be so drawn up that they harmonize with the liturgical seasons, accord with the sacred liturgy, are in some fashion derived from it, and lead the people to it…”  (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, #13)

It is not uncommon for devotion to Christ, Mary and the saints to include material objects, from pictures to scapulars to relics. The “material object” has often given to the devotion its title (the Sacred Heart for example).  It is, however, the formal object (the meaning) that gives any devotion its true significance and value.  It may be a specific attribute of the person or mystery of their life, but the real point of all the devotions is always the same: the person, be it Christ, Mary, or one of the saints.

Catholic Source Book, Rev Peter Klein, Harcourt Religious Publishers, 1999 pp 367-368.

Catholic Christians in Ireland have numerous devotions to Christ, Mary and saints as well as religious traditions.  This page details some of these traditions – practiced and long forgotten.