diff --git a/dr_botzo/dr_botzo/settings.py b/dr_botzo/dr_botzo/settings.py
index b53007b..6702a77 100644
--- a/dr_botzo/dr_botzo/settings.py
+++ b/dr_botzo/dr_botzo/settings.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ INSTALLED_APPS = (
     'django.contrib.messages',
     'django.contrib.staticfiles',
     'django_extensions',
+    'ircbot',
     'markov',
     'races',
     'seen',
@@ -113,6 +114,21 @@ STATICFILES_DIRS = (
     os.path.join(BASE_DIR, 'static'),
 )
 
+
+# IRC bot stuff
+
+# tuple of hostname, port number, and password (or None)
+IRCBOT_SERVER_LIST = [
+    ('localhost', 6667, None),
+]
+IRCBOT_NICKNAME = 'dr_botzo'
+IRCBOT_REALNAME = 'Dr. Botzo'
+IRCBOT_SSL = False
+IRCBOT_IPV6 = False
+
+
+# load local settings
+
 try:
     from dr_botzo.localsettings import *
 except ImportError:
diff --git a/dr_botzo/ircbot/__init__.py b/dr_botzo/ircbot/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/dr_botzo/ircbot/ircbot.py b/dr_botzo/ircbot/ircbot.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f4b21c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dr_botzo/ircbot/ircbot.py
@@ -0,0 +1,370 @@
+"""Provide the base IRC client bot which other code can latch onto."""
+
+import ssl
+import sys
+
+from django.conf import settings
+
+import irc.client
+from irc.connection import Factory
+from irc.dict import IRCDict
+import irc.modes
+
+
+class IRCBot(irc.client.SimpleIRCClient):
+    """A single-server IRC bot class."""
+
+    def __init__(self, reconnection_interval=60):
+        super(IRCBot, self).__init__()
+
+        self.channels = IRCDict()
+
+        # set up the server list
+        self.server_list = settings.IRCBOT_SERVER_LIST
+
+        # set reconnection interval
+        if not reconnection_interval or reconnection_interval < 0:
+            reconnection_interval = 2 ** 31
+        self.reconnection_interval = reconnection_interval
+
+        # set basic stuff
+        self._nickname = settings.IRCBOT_NICKNAME
+        self._realname = settings.IRCBOT_REALNAME
+
+        # handlers
+        for i in ['disconnect', 'join', 'kick', 'mode', 'namreply', 'nick', 'part', 'quit']:
+            self.connection.add_global_handler(i, getattr(self, '_on_' + i), -20)
+
+    def _connected_checker(self):
+        if not self.connection.is_connected():
+            self.connection.execute_delayed(self.reconnection_interval,
+                                            self._connected_checker)
+            self.jump_server()
+
+    def _connect(self):
+        server = self.server_list[0]
+        try:
+            # build the connection factory as determined by IPV6/SSL settings
+            if settings.IRCBOT_SSL:
+                connect_factory = Factory(wrapper=ssl.wrap_socket, ipv6=settings.IRCBOT_IPV6)
+            else:
+                connect_factory = Factory(ipv6=settings.IRCBOT_IPV6)
+
+            self.connect(server[0], server[1], self._nickname, server[2], ircname=self._realname,
+                         connect_factory=connect_factory)
+        except irc.client.ServerConnectionError:
+            pass
+
+    def _on_disconnect(self, c, e):
+        self.channels = IRCDict()
+        self.connection.execute_delayed(self.reconnection_interval,
+                                        self._connected_checker)
+
+    def _on_join(self, c, e):
+        ch = e.target
+        nick = e.source.nick
+        if nick == c.get_nickname():
+            self.channels[ch] = Channel()
+        self.channels[ch].add_user(nick)
+
+    def _on_kick(self, c, e):
+        nick = e.arguments[0]
+        channel = e.target
+
+        if nick == c.get_nickname():
+            del self.channels[channel]
+        else:
+            self.channels[channel].remove_user(nick)
+
+    def _on_mode(self, c, e):
+        modes = irc.modes.parse_channel_modes(" ".join(e.arguments))
+        t = e.target
+        if irc.client.is_channel(t):
+            ch = self.channels[t]
+            for mode in modes:
+                if mode[0] == "+":
+                    f = ch.set_mode
+                else:
+                    f = ch.clear_mode
+                f(mode[1], mode[2])
+        else:
+            # Mode on self... XXX
+            pass
+
+    def _on_namreply(self, c, e):
+        """Get the list of names in a channel.
+
+        e.arguments[0] == "@" for secret channels,
+                          "*" for private channels,
+                          "=" for others (public channels)
+        e.arguments[1] == channel
+        e.arguments[2] == nick list
+        """
+
+        ch_type, channel, nick_list = e.arguments
+
+        if channel == '*':
+            # User is not in any visible channel
+            # http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc2812#section-3.2.5
+            return
+
+        for nick in nick_list.split():
+            nick_modes = []
+
+            if nick[0] in self.connection.features.prefix:
+                nick_modes.append(self.connection.features.prefix[nick[0]])
+                nick = nick[1:]
+
+            for mode in nick_modes:
+                self.channels[channel].set_mode(mode, nick)
+
+            self.channels[channel].add_user(nick)
+
+    def _on_nick(self, c, e):
+        before = e.source.nick
+        after = e.target
+        for ch in self.channels.values():
+            if ch.has_user(before):
+                ch.change_nick(before, after)
+
+    def _on_part(self, c, e):
+        nick = e.source.nick
+        channel = e.target
+
+        if nick == c.get_nickname():
+            del self.channels[channel]
+        else:
+            self.channels[channel].remove_user(nick)
+
+    def _on_quit(self, c, e):
+        nick = e.source.nick
+        for ch in self.channels.values():
+            if ch.has_user(nick):
+                ch.remove_user(nick)
+
+    def die(self, msg="Bye, cruel world!"):
+        """Let the bot die.
+
+        Arguments:
+
+            msg -- Quit message.
+        """
+
+        self.connection.disconnect(msg)
+        sys.exit(0)
+
+    def disconnect(self, msg="I'll be back!"):
+        """Disconnect the bot.
+
+        The bot will try to reconnect after a while.
+
+        Arguments:
+
+            msg -- Quit message.
+        """
+
+        self.connection.disconnect(msg)
+
+    def get_version(self):
+        """Returns the bot version.
+
+        Used when answering a CTCP VERSION request.
+        """
+
+        return "Python irc.bot ({version})".format(
+            version=irc.client.VERSION_STRING)
+
+
+    def jump_server(self, msg="Changing servers"):
+        """Connect to a new server, potentially disconnecting from the current one."""
+
+        if self.connection.is_connected():
+            self.connection.disconnect(msg)
+
+        self.server_list.append(self.server_list.pop(0))
+        self._connect()
+
+    def on_ctcp(self, c, e):
+        """Default handler for ctcp events.
+
+        Replies to VERSION and PING requests and relays DCC requests
+        to the on_dccchat method.
+        """
+
+        nick = e.source.nick
+        if e.arguments[0] == "VERSION":
+            c.ctcp_reply(nick, "VERSION " + self.get_version())
+        elif e.arguments[0] == "PING":
+            if len(e.arguments) > 1:
+                c.ctcp_reply(nick, "PING " + e.arguments[1])
+        elif e.arguments[0] == "DCC" and e.arguments[1].split(" ", 1)[0] == "CHAT":
+            self.on_dccchat(c, e)
+
+    def on_dccchat(self, c, e):
+        pass
+
+    def start(self):
+        """Start the bot."""
+
+        self._connect()
+        super(IRCBot, self).start()
+
+
+class Channel(object):
+    """A class for keeping information about an IRC channel."""
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.userdict = IRCDict()
+        self.operdict = IRCDict()
+        self.voiceddict = IRCDict()
+        self.ownerdict = IRCDict()
+        self.halfopdict = IRCDict()
+        self.modes = {}
+
+    def users(self):
+        """Returns an unsorted list of the channel's users."""
+
+        return self.userdict.keys()
+
+    def opers(self):
+        """Returns an unsorted list of the channel's operators."""
+
+        return self.operdict.keys()
+
+    def voiced(self):
+        """Returns an unsorted list of the persons that have voice
+        mode set in the channel."""
+
+        return self.voiceddict.keys()
+
+    def owners(self):
+        """Returns an unsorted list of the channel's owners."""
+
+        return self.ownerdict.keys()
+
+    def halfops(self):
+        """Returns an unsorted list of the channel's half-operators."""
+
+        return self.halfopdict.keys()
+
+    def has_user(self, nick):
+        """Check whether the channel has a user."""
+
+        return nick in self.userdict
+
+    def is_oper(self, nick):
+        """Check whether a user has operator status in the channel."""
+
+        return nick in self.operdict
+
+    def is_voiced(self, nick):
+        """Check whether a user has voice mode set in the channel."""
+
+        return nick in self.voiceddict
+
+    def is_owner(self, nick):
+        """Check whether a user has owner status in the channel."""
+
+        return nick in self.ownerdict
+
+    def is_halfop(self, nick):
+        """Check whether a user has half-operator status in the channel."""
+
+        return nick in self.halfopdict
+
+    def add_user(self, nick):
+        self.userdict[nick] = 1
+
+    def remove_user(self, nick):
+        for d in self.userdict, self.operdict, self.voiceddict:
+            if nick in d:
+                del d[nick]
+
+    def change_nick(self, before, after):
+        self.userdict[after] = self.userdict.pop(before)
+        if before in self.operdict:
+            self.operdict[after] = self.operdict.pop(before)
+        if before in self.voiceddict:
+            self.voiceddict[after] = self.voiceddict.pop(before)
+
+    def set_userdetails(self, nick, details):
+        if nick in self.userdict:
+            self.userdict[nick] = details
+
+    def set_mode(self, mode, value=None):
+        """Set mode on the channel.
+
+        Arguments:
+
+            mode -- The mode (a single-character string).
+
+            value -- Value
+        """
+
+        if mode == "o":
+            self.operdict[value] = 1
+        elif mode == "v":
+            self.voiceddict[value] = 1
+        elif mode == "q":
+            self.ownerdict[value] = 1
+        elif mode == "h":
+            self.halfopdict[value] = 1
+        else:
+            self.modes[mode] = value
+
+    def clear_mode(self, mode, value=None):
+        """Clear mode on the channel.
+
+        Arguments:
+
+            mode -- The mode (a single-character string).
+
+            value -- Value
+        """
+
+        try:
+            if mode == "o":
+                del self.operdict[value]
+            elif mode == "v":
+                del self.voiceddict[value]
+            elif mode == "q":
+                del self.ownerdict[value]
+            elif mode == "h":
+                del self.halfopdict[value]
+            else:
+                del self.modes[mode]
+        except KeyError:
+            pass
+
+    def has_mode(self, mode):
+        return mode in self.modes
+
+    def is_moderated(self):
+        return self.has_mode("m")
+
+    def is_secret(self):
+        return self.has_mode("s")
+
+    def is_protected(self):
+        return self.has_mode("p")
+
+    def has_topic_lock(self):
+        return self.has_mode("t")
+
+    def is_invite_only(self):
+        return self.has_mode("i")
+
+    def has_allow_external_messages(self):
+        return self.has_mode("n")
+
+    def has_limit(self):
+        return self.has_mode("l")
+
+    def limit(self):
+        if self.has_limit():
+            return self.modes["l"]
+        else:
+            return None
+
+    def has_key(self):
+        return self.has_mode("k")
diff --git a/dr_botzo/ircbot/management/__init__.py b/dr_botzo/ircbot/management/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/dr_botzo/ircbot/management/commands/__init__.py b/dr_botzo/ircbot/management/commands/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/dr_botzo/ircbot/management/commands/runircbot.py b/dr_botzo/ircbot/management/commands/runircbot.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6e94f9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dr_botzo/ircbot/management/commands/runircbot.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+"""Start the IRC bot via Django management command."""
+
+import logging
+
+from django.core.management import BaseCommand
+
+from ircbot.ircbot import IRCBot
+
+
+log = logging.getLogger('ircbot')
+
+
+class Command(BaseCommand):
+    """Provide the command to start the IRC bot.
+
+    This will run until the bot disconnects and shuts down.
+    """
+
+    help = "Start the IRC bot"
+
+    def handle(self, *args, **options):
+        """Start the IRC bot and spin forever."""
+
+        irc = IRCBot()
+        irc.start()
diff --git a/dr_botzo/ircbot/migrations/__init__.py b/dr_botzo/ircbot/migrations/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 8a2ba17..f34aff4 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,8 +1,19 @@
 Django==1.8.1
 django-extensions==1.5.3
 httplib2==0.7.4
+inflect==0.2.5
+irc==12.1.4
+jaraco.apt==1.0
+jaraco.classes==1.2
+jaraco.collections==1.1
+jaraco.context==1.3
+jaraco.functools==1.3
+jaraco.itertools==1.3
+jaraco.logging==1.2
+jaraco.text==1.3
 logilab-astng==0.24.0
 logilab-common==0.58.1
+more-itertools==2.2
 MySQL-python==1.2.3
 oauth2==1.5.211
 oauthlib==0.5.1
@@ -13,4 +24,7 @@ python-dateutil==2.1
 requests==1.2.3
 requests-oauthlib==0.3.2
 six==1.9.0
+tempora==1.3
 twython==3.0.0
+yg.lockfile==2.0
+zc.lockfile==1.1.0