"I'm just not a maths person" is not true.
One-to-one grinds for students who've switched off from maths, explained in a way that finally makes sense.
↳ no sign-up, no app, just email or call
Sound familiar?
- "I'm just not a maths person" gets said a lot more than it used to
- Homework that should take 20 minutes takes an hour, and ends in a row
- They were grand at maths in primary school, but something's clicked off since
- They get it in grinds, then blank the second the exam paper's in front of them
If any of that sounds familiar, to you or to them, that's exactly who this is for.
The way it's taught in school isn't the only way it makes sense.
This isn't "make maths fun." It's a genuine translation process, and it works the same way whether it's Junior Cert basics or a Leaving Cert topic that's been causing trouble for two years.
Every topic on the course already exists somewhere outside a textbook, in something a student understands without realising it's maths. My job is to find that version first. We build the idea there, where it already makes sense, then carry it back into exam format, the notation, the wording, the layout an examiner expects, so the understanding actually holds up on the page in June.
Straight line equations, without the letter soup
"y = mx + c" is where a lot of students switch off completely. It stops being abstract the moment it's a taxi fare: a flat call-out charge, plus a rate per kilometre. Most lines on the course boil down to the same idea, "a starting point and a rate," wearing algebra's clothes.
Quadratic equations as a flight path, not a formula to memorise
A parabola is the shape of a basketball's arc, a football kicked toward goal, water leaving a fountain. That flight path can be modelled by a quadratic, and finding where it lands means finding where that quadratic hits zero. Factorising, completing the square, the quadratic formula: three different ways of interrogating the same curve, not three unrelated tricks.
Simultaneous equations as two plans crossing over
Two mobile plans: one cheap with a catch, one dearer but unlimited. There's a point where both cost exactly the same, that point is "the solution," and it's found the same way whether you're comparing phone plans in your head or solving it in algebra.
Differentiation as a speedometer, not new notation
A car going 0 to 100km/h in 8 seconds tells you the average rate of change, nothing more. Your speedometer is more interesting: it tells you the speed at this exact instant, not the average over the last while. Differentiation is the maths that gets you from "on average" to "right now," for any curve, not just a speed.
Same exact course. Same exact exam. Just no more faking it until it's too late.
I think long division should be banned!
I'm a physics graduate, which basically means I've spent years asking "why does this actually work?" instead of just memorising the steps. I never learned to love long division or times-tables drilling, because they're not built to make sense, they're built to be repeated until they stick. There are quicker, more intuitive ways to reach the same answer, and once a student sees one actually click, they stop assuming they're "bad at maths" and start realising the method just never suited them.
I'm a stay-at-home dad with three kids of my own, and I've been teaching them this way for years. It's taught me that when something isn't clicking, changing the explanation can make a remarkable difference.
"If a student isn't getting it, that's on how I've explained it, not on them. So I'll find another way until it clicks."
Every lesson starts with understanding and confidence. The formal maths follows from there. No jargon for the sake of it, no rushing past something that hasn't landed yet, and no getting made to feel small for not getting it the first time. I'll also do my best to make it good craic, because a relaxed student learns better than a stressed one.
Dave Callaghan
How it actually works
Get in touch
Email, call or text with the student's year, and what your child is hoping to work on. No forms to fill in, just a quick message to get started.
A free 15-minute chat
No charge, no obligation. We talk through what's actually needed, whether that's a specific topic, steady exam practice, or building the basics back up, and agree what helps lessons start well: a willing attitude, phone away, pen and copybook ready.
A plan built around your child
No two students get the same lessons. Some need focused work on one topic, others want structured exam practice, others need general problem-solving strategies. Lessons follow whatever actually fits, not a generic worksheet.
Real progress, checked along the way
Progress isn't just a feeling. We check in regularly on how lessons are landing, adjust the plan if something needs more time, and keep you updated on how your child is getting on, not just at report card time.
Pricing
Single lesson
Online, one-to-one. Materials included. No commitment, book as you go.
5-lesson block
Works out at €25 a lesson
Same one-to-one lessons, booked in advance. The right call if you know it's more than a one-off.
Home visit
I come to you. Currently only covering the west side of Galway city, get in touch to check it works for your address.
Safety
A few things worth knowing before you get in touch.
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Garda vetted with a clear criminal record.
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All email or phone contact must go through the parent or guardian, never the student directly. I will never message a student myself, or ask for their personal number or email.
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Another adult must be present in the house for the full lesson during home visits.
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Parents are welcome to sit in on, or check in on, any online lesson.
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If a family member isn't happy at any point, lessons stop, no questions asked.
Ready when you are.
No booking system to figure out, just send a quick email or message and we'll take it from there. I'll get back to you within 12 hours on weekdays, weekends might take a little longer.
When you get in touch, include:
- Your name
- The student's age or year
- What's needed, a topic, exam prep, or just general support
- A good day or time for a quick callback, to chat through timing, logistics, and anything else