The Canon, as he was affectionately known, was a native of Fenagh, County Leitrim. He was born on 1st November 1916 and ordained in Rome on 13th July 1941. His first assignment was as Chaplain to Loreto in Dalkey for a year. In 1942 he was appointed to St Joseph's, Portland Row, in 1944 to Fairview, in 1947 to Eadestown, Co. Kildare, in 1952 to East Wall, in 1955 to Dundrum and in 1965 to Marino. When in Dundrum as a Curate, Canon Carey was very much involved in overseeing the extension of the church there. In Marino he oversaw the produc- tion of the parish newsletter - a brochure ahead of its time. In 1974 Canon Carey came south of the Liffey once again to become the first Parish Priest of Ballinreer. Here he was among many of the people who knew him from his time in Dundrum. He enjoyed walking around the parish chatting with young and old, constantly making friends. In 1983 Canon Carey saw Meadowbrook being formed as a separate parish and in 1992 the opening of the Oratory in Ballinteer Church. In 1987 Canon Carey was most supportive of the formation of the Parish Newsletter, passing on his experience gained in Marino and sharing his bound volumes of various edi- tions of that parish's Newsletters.

In 1988 he was assigned the tide of Canon and in 1991 he celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his ordination. In 1992 he retired as Parish Priest but continued in the Parish as Pastor Emeritus.

The Canon, as Parish Priest, oversaw the formation of many parish groups, being supportive of all and making the Conference Room freely available. He had an astonishing knowledge of all of the Saints and on their feastdays could speak eloquently about their lives.

In his retirement, the Canon loved to be with his friends in the Golden Age Club, travelling on their bus outings and attending their parties.

Canon Carey overcame serious illness during his time as Parish Priest and enjoyed relatively good health up until recently. He drove up to see the work on the church roof comparing the scene to a "war zone".

He loved Ballinteer and its people and it is fitting that his ashes will be interred in the church grounds in due course.

I was privileged to have visited the Canon a week before his death. He spoke about his illness, the changes from his youth in County Leitrim and the people he knew in Dundrum over the years. He asked for many in Ballinteer and was very much alert about local happenings. His breathing was difficult and his nephew Father Dermod McCarthy compared his last days to those experienced by the late Pope John Paul IT prior to his death.

The Canon was a man of great wit who quietly helped many people, a true Good Shepherd who looked after his flock and loved being among them. He was with many who were bereaved even after he retired to Roebuck four years ago.

To his sister, nephews and nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces, sincerest sympathy.

God grant you eternal rest Canon Carey.