Edwin Regan was born in Port Talbot, and studied at St. John's Seminary, Waterford, Ireland, where he was ordained to the priesthood on 5 July 1959.
Regan served as chaplain to Porthcawl Convent from 1967 to 1971, whence he became director of catechetics and cathedral administrator for the Archdiocese of Cardiff.
He received his episcopal consecration on the following 13 December from Archbishop John Ward, OFM Cap, with Bishops Daniel Mullins and Vincent Nichols serving as co-consecrators.
[1] This appointment was considered unusual, as an Apostolic Administrator is normally named when the sitting Ordinary has either died or resigned.
Bishop Regan moved to Blaenau Ffestiniog to serve as a parish priest for five years before finally retiring from ministry.