yes i think so;
dmesg | grep lirc
lirc_dev: IR Remote Control driver registered, major 250
platform lirc_dev.0: lirc_dev: driver lirc_sir registered at minor = 0
lirc_sir: I/O port 0x03e8, IRQ 4.
lirc_sir: Installed.
i still can't use -H (lirc_)sir with lircd, and 'mode2' still doesn't return anything.. but i'm connecting via ssh so i'll have to see if that is the same with a display connected- which i'll do shortly.