Some say the Irish are getting more selfish, more soulless and more cynical. But in a little corner of South Africa, a team of house-building volunteers is doing its best to buck the theory.
"It's no big deal," said Sean FitzPatrick, his skin almost as orange as his T-shirt after a day's labouring. "It's an honour to have the opportunity to get involved." The Anglo Irish Bank chief executive was one of 350 people who agreed give up a week of their holidays to work on the project, run by Dublin property developer Niall Mellon.
Almost all of the volunteers spoke of the desire to "give something back" after many years riding high on the Celtic Tiger, and Mr FitzPatrick, for one, believes the feeling is far from isolated.
"Corporate Ireland is getting a conscience," he remarked. "It's not just to stem off bad publicity. A lot of stuff is being done quietly by business people." Certainly, South Africa has been impressed by the enterprise of Mr Mellon and his growing army of disciples. About 1,000 homes have been built under his townships project in the past five years, and by the end of this week at least another 50 will be standing - thanks to the volunteers.
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was among those praising the group's efforts yesterday on a visit to the latest building site at Mfuleni, outside Cape Town. The Nobel laureate said: "There is so much that is ghastly [ in the world] but, hey, there is also so much that is good. God sits there crying, and then . . . God looks down and says, 'Did you see those Irish?' " Almost 80 per cent of the volunteers are working craftsmen from the building trade. Non-specialists include Paula Cullen, the Co Wicklow mother of rugby player Leo Cullen, and former Boyzone star Keith Duffy.
"Having been in a boy band, you can imagine the slagging I am getting here," the latter remarked, shovel in hand.
Barking orders at the singer was Co Carlow property developer Sean Dunne who bought Jurys Ballsbridge last year for more than €200 million. He said the trip made him realise how little Irish people had to complain about "in terms of infrastructure".
Alluding to his own planning difficulties in Dublin 4, he said half-jokingly: "If people came out here they might stop being serial objectors to progress."