I started out on the -17 kernel without having lirc installed.  I added lirc-modules-source and then added the -19 kernel.  I verified that this fix works properly:

supermario@mlimonciello:~$ sudo dpkg -i lirc-modules-source_0.8.3~pre1-0ubuntu7.1_all.deb 
[sudo] password for supermario: 
Selecting previously deselected package lirc-modules-source.
(Reading database ... 175017 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking lirc-modules-source (from lirc-modules-source_0.8.3~pre1-0ubuntu7.1_all.deb) ...
Setting up lirc-modules-source (0.8.3~pre1-0ubuntu7.1) ...
Adding Module to DKMS build system
Doing initial module build
Installing initial module
Done.

supermario@mlimonciello:~$ sudo dpkg -i Desktop/*.deb
Selecting previously deselected package linux-backports-modules-2.6.24-19-generic.
(Reading database ... 175161 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking linux-backports-modules-2.6.24-19-generic (from .../linux-backports-modules-2.6.24-19-generic_2.6.24-19.17_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package linux-headers-2.6.24-19.
Unpacking linux-headers-2.6.24-19 (from .../linux-headers-2.6.24-19_2.6.24-19.33_all.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package linux-headers-2.6.24-19-generic.
Unpacking linux-headers-2.6.24-19-generic (from .../linux-headers-2.6.24-19-generic_2.6.24-19.33_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package linux-image-2.6.24-19-generic.
Unpacking linux-image-2.6.24-19-generic (from .../linux-image-2.6.24-19-generic_2.6.24-19.33_i386.deb) ...
Done.
Preparing to replace linux-libc-dev 2.6.24-18.32 (using .../linux-libc-dev_2.6.24-19.33_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement linux-libc-dev ...
Selecting previously deselected package linux-restricted-modules-2.6.24-19-generic.
Unpacking linux-restricted-modules-2.6.24-19-generic (from .../linux-restricted-modules-2.6.24-19-generic_2.6.24.13-19.42_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package linux-ubuntu-modules-2.6.24-19-generic.
Unpacking linux-ubuntu-modules-2.6.24-19-generic (from .../linux-ubuntu-modules-2.6.24-19-generic_2.6.24-19.27_i386.deb) ...
Setting up linux-headers-2.6.24-19 (2.6.24-19.33) ...
Setting up linux-headers-2.6.24-19-generic (2.6.24-19.33) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/header_postinst.d.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/header_postinst.d/dkms

lirc (0.8.3~pre1): Installing module.
.............
......

Setting up linux-image-2.6.24-19-generic (2.6.24-19.33) ...
Running depmod.
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic
Running postinst hook script /sbin/update-grub.
Searching for GRUB installation directory ... found: /boot/grub
Searching for default file ... found: /boot/grub/default
Testing for an existing GRUB menu.lst file ... found: /boot/grub/menu.lst
Searching for splash image ... found: /boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-18-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-17-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic
Found kernel: /boot/memtest86+.bin
Replacing config file /var/run/grub/menu.lst with new version
Updating /boot/grub/menu.lst ... done

Examining /etc/kernel/postinst.d.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms

lirc (0.8.3~pre1): Already installed on this kernel.

Setting up linux-libc-dev (2.6.24-19.33) ...
Setting up linux-restricted-modules-2.6.24-19-generic (2.6.24.13-19.42) ...

Setting up linux-ubuntu-modules-2.6.24-19-generic (2.6.24-19.27) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic

Setting up linux-backports-modules-2.6.24-19-generic (2.6.24-19.17) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic

supermario@mlimonciello:~$ modinfo /lib/modules/2.6.24-17-generic/updates/dkms/commandir.ko 
filename:       /lib/modules/2.6.24-17-generic/updates/dkms/commandir.ko
license:        GPL
description:    CommandIR USB Transceiver Driver
author:         Evelyn Yeung, InnovationOne
srcversion:     0E3102B6ACEE7D025D10D21
alias:          usb:v10C4p0003d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
depends:        usbcore
vermagic:       2.6.24-17-generic SMP mod_unload 586 
supermario@mlimonciello:~$ modinfo /lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/updates/dkms/commandir.ko 
filename:       /lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/updates/dkms/commandir.ko
license:        GPL
description:    CommandIR USB Transceiver Driver
author:         Evelyn Yeung, InnovationOne
srcversion:     0E3102B6ACEE7D025D10D21
alias:          usb:v10C4p0003d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
depends:        usbcore
vermagic:       2.6.24-19-generic SMP mod_unload 586