Kildare Castle, located in the heart of Kildare town, is believed to stand on the remains of an earlier 13th-century curtain-walled stronghold, possibly dating to around 1223. While little of the original medieval structure survives above ground, its presence is thought to linger beneath the modern streetscape.

Local tradition holds that human remains were uncovered during excavation work carried out when a cinema was later constructed on part of the site – a building that now forms part of the Silken Thomas complex, situated beside the former castle grounds. Although no official records survive to confirm the discovery, the story has endured in local memory for generations.

Over the years, staff and visitors have spoken of unsettling activity within the old structure. Dogs were said to bark furiously at seemingly empty walls, refusing to enter certain rooms, while beds were reputed to move of their own accord during the night. These disturbances became so persistent that, according to local tradition, the building was eventually blessed or exorcised, bringing a sense of calm back to the site.

Today, the former castle forms part of the Silken Thomas accommodation, where guests stay unaware that beneath their feet may lie the remnants of medieval Kildare.