Dawson Press · Published 2026 · The Withholding Trilogy 02
Clench
How do you care for someone you have never stopped resisting?
Across a year in Dublin, mother and daughter are brought into an intimacy neither would have chosen.
The story
How do you care for someone you have never stopped resisting?
Emer’s husband has moved out. His tools are still in the house. Her mother keeps calling.
As Maeve’s health begins to fail, she is determined to remain in her own home. Emer finds herself making room for appointments, carers and needs that cannot wait until she has finished work. Soon she must help her mother wash and dress. Neither woman is used to letting the other decide.
Maeve has preferences, old grievances and a life her daughter only partly knows. Emer has limits she struggles to admit. And Alec, still welcome in her mother’s house, remains close enough for her to want more than his help.
Across a year in Dublin, mother and daughter are brought into an intimacy neither would have chosen.
From the author of Spoil, Clench is a novel about care, resentment and the difficult freedom of someone you love.
Clench is the second novel in The Withholding Trilogy, following Spoil.
The film
Five parts. A year in Dublin.
With Water on Tired Hands. Listen to the song and follow the lyrics below.
How do you care for someone you have never stopped resisting? Maeve has preferences, old grievances. Emer has limits she struggles to admit. Neither woman is used to letting the other decide. The difficult freedom of someone you love. Clench, a novel by Orlaith Madigan. Dawson Press.
The song
Water on Tired Hands
English vocals 0:50
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Lyrics
Warm water runs over tired hands
A house at night is quiet now
A clenched hand refuses to let go
A window left slightly open tonight
The heavy heart learns to yield
The walls begin to finally fall
A quiet light breaks through the dark
We breathe and finally let go
The hands are soft and gentle now
An old silence begins to speak
A love that words could never say
A quiet breath is finally released
We let go
We find our peace at last tonight
The five parts
Scenes from Clench.
The Withholding Trilogy
Orlaith Madigan · Dawson Press