Where is the grief and tension most present in the novel between Moran and his family?

Moran has a temper and his voice contains sarcasm, anger, and malice. He tries to explain himself as being misunderstood. He can be physically violent. The children fear his beatings and yet, make much of his niceness when he is in a good mood. Three of his five children leave Ireland for England. The other two find their way in Dublin and visit the family home often.

The story starts with an ailing Moran afraid of his daughters, as they make it their mission to keep him alive. They revive a long, ignored, Great Meadow tradition to try to get him to engage in life again. Monaghan Day was the day of a local fair, but in days passed in Moran's house, it was the day McQuaid, an army buddy, would come to have tea, drink whisky, and reminisce about the war. Although McQuaid had long since died, Moran's daughters thought it would lift his spirits and make him like he once was.