diff --git a/countdown/ircplugin.py b/countdown/ircplugin.py
index ec8b713..53cb2bc 100644
--- a/countdown/ircplugin.py
+++ b/countdown/ircplugin.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 """Access to countdown items through bot commands."""
 
 import logging
+import threading
+import time
 
 from dateutil.relativedelta import relativedelta
 
@@ -17,8 +19,21 @@ class Countdown(Plugin):
 
     """Report on countdown items."""
 
+    def __init__(self, bot, connection, event):
+        """Initialize some stuff."""
+        self.running_reminders = []
+        self.send_reminders = True
+
+        t = threading.Thread(target=self.reminder_thread)
+        t.daemon = True
+        t.start()
+
+        super(Countdown, self).__init__(bot, connection, event)
+
     def start(self):
         """Set up handlers."""
+        self.running_reminders = []
+        self.send_reminders = True
 
         self.connection.reactor.add_global_regex_handler(['pubmsg', 'privmsg'], r'^!countdown\s+list$',
                                                          self.handle_item_list, -20)
@@ -29,12 +44,29 @@ class Countdown(Plugin):
 
     def stop(self):
         """Tear down handlers."""
+        self.running_reminders = []
+        self.send_reminders = False
 
         self.connection.reactor.remove_global_regex_handler(['pubmsg', 'privmsg'], self.handle_item_list)
         self.connection.reactor.remove_global_regex_handler(['pubmsg', 'privmsg'], self.handle_item_detail)
 
         super(Countdown, self).stop()
 
+    def reminder_thread(self):
+        """After IRC is started up, begin sending reminders."""
+        time.sleep(30)
+        while self.send_reminders:
+            reminders = CountdownItem.objects.filter(is_reminder=True, sent_reminder=False)
+
+            for reminder in reminders:
+                log.debug("%s @ %s", reminder.reminder_message, reminder.at_time)
+                if reminder.at_time <= timezone.now():
+                    log.info("sending %s to %s", reminder.reminder_message, reminder.reminder_target)
+                    self.bot.reply(None, reminder.reminder_message, explicit_target=reminder.reminder_target)
+                    reminder.sent_reminder = True
+                    reminder.save()
+            time.sleep(1)
+
     def handle_item_detail(self, connection, event, match):
         """Provide the details of one countdown item."""