Ned was a native of Castlemaine, Kerry. While working in London he met his future wife and Ashbourne native Moira Newman and they returned to live in Ashbourne in 1971. Like all good Kerrymen, Ned was a useful footballer and that same year the local club Donaghmore with the Castlemaine man to the fore won the Meath junior football championship. He continued to serve the Donaghmore club, both as a player and as an official for many years thereafter. Ned was very popular in his adopted parish and acted on many local committees. Large crowds flocked to his funeral and helping out at Ned Carey's funeral Mass was Fr. Pat Murray, also a member of that 1971 team.