Tony Mullin was born in County Mayo and emigrated to the US when a teenager. He joined his eldest sister in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and spent most of the rest of his life there. More than once he was referred to as “the only (uilleann) piper in the coal regions.” He had a career as hotel and restaurant manager, interspersed with times when he was a working musician or as part of a vaudeville act. There was an unusual amount of Irish musical activity – particularly piping – in northeastern Pennsylvania from about 1890 to 1910. This was coal country, with many Irish emigrants working in the mines. As a musician and as a man trained to be a good host, Mullin was well-positioned to be visited by musicians from outside the area and he likely facilitated engagements for out-of-town Irish musicians. Mullin was most active musically from about 1892-1920. By 1908 he was living at 3 Auburn Street on the north side of Wilkes-Barre and he resided there for the remainder of his life. He died at his home on 13th February, 1934, aged 70 years.