Once is a funny, moving, life affirming story of love between a boy and a girl. But it's also a love song to Dublin. The city is a huge presence in the tale, almost becoming a character itself. The cast of the Olympia Theatre's production have been busy discovering (and rediscovering) the city as part of their preparation for the show, as you can see in this short film.

Megan Riordan, Sam Cieri and Phelim Drew all discuss their favourite areas of Dublin, and how these places have inspired them:

As you can see in the video, Once also serves as a reminder that Dublin is a city of music - whether it be the buskers on the streets or trad sessions in local pubs or music venues. This is the side of Dublin that inspired Glen Hansard when he wrote the music for the original film, including the iconic Falling Slowly.

Take your chance to see Once in the city that inspired it, as it continues its run in the Olympia Theatre until August 27th

After you've seen Once, there's so many ways you can explore Dublin's musical side that the show portrays. Here are a few suggestions:

Visit Walton's School of Music
The film version of Once, which pre-dates the stage-show, boasts a memorable scene shot in Walton’s, South Great George’s Street. Founded in the early 1920s, it’s almost as famed for its music school as it is for the dizzying array of instruments.

Take the Rock 'n' Roll Museum Tour
The Irish Rock ’N’ Roll Museum Experience in Temple Bar is a one-stop shop for those keen to get a sense of the scope and variety of Irish music. There are exhibits from everyone from the Boomtown Rats to the Script, and not forgetting U2. The VIP tour includes a visit to Temple Lane Rehearsal Studios - one of the most popular working band spaces in the city - as well as its adjoining recording studio, which was recently used by Rihanna.

Watch Dublin's buskers perform
Street performance is an essential element of the Once story and it was on Grafton Street that Glen Hansard first honed his trade. Glen's moved on since then, but there are still plenty of talented acts to see and hear. Stroll up Grafton Street and across to Temple Bar to see them all.

Go to a gig
In addition to trad sessions in many of the local pubs, Dublin has a wide range of concert venues that put on shows each night. You can choose from bigger venues like the 3 Arena and the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, to smaller more intimate locations like Whelan's or Vicar Street. Once's Sam Cieri plays Whelan's on August 7th, be sure to check him out.

For more cool ideas about how to experience Dublin’s rich and vibrant tradition of music, please see www.visitdublin.com