I would really recommend you go for Python 3, if you don't have any software that requires python 2.
Here are two templates with socket:
https://gist.github....Szkutak/1326452 3+
https://gist.github....c0decat/4416645 2.6+
If you want to work with some kind of wrapper 2.6+:
https://github.com/jaraco/irc
I like sockets, cause I am more familiar with it. I guess you have to rewrite the ""pong function" in each bot, cause every irc server handles it mostly different. (So your bot does not time out)
If you have any problems, just hit me with code and the error output. It is not an easy task to write a IRC bot.
edit: There is http://asyncio.org/ too, that has a IRC module. (Works only for 2.6 atm) But I gave up after I found out it is not working with 3+ cause some ssl functions are not compatible)
Edited by Donaldx, 22 March 2016 - 11:07 PM.