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I'm trying to build Python 2.7.2 on IRIX 6.5.30 and get the attached error in ./Modules/signalmodule.c

That's because struct timeval is not defined by <sys/time.h> on IRIX, or it doesn't get included in Modules/signalmodule.c.
Can you try to compile the following code with the same compiler/options?
"""
#include <sys/time.h>
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
 struct timeval tv;
 return 0;
}
"""
By the way, is IRIX an officially supported platform?

./test.c: In function 'main':
./test.c:5: warning: unused variable 'tv'
is what it gives back.

Ok, what happens if you change, in Modules/signalmodule.c
20 #ifdef HAVE_SYS_TIME_H 
21 #include <sys/time.h>
22 #endif
to
21 #include <sys/time.h>
and rebuild Python?

In file included from ./Modules/signalmodule.c:23:
/usr/include/sys/time.h:186: error: static declaration of 'select' follows non-static declaration
/usr/include/unistd.h:479: error: previous declaration of 'select' was here
make: *** [Modules/signalmodule.o] Error 1

You can't include both <unistd.h> and <sys/time.h> on IRIX...
Nice one!
A couple suggestions (in this order):
1) try putting "#include <sys/time.h>" before "#include "Python.h""
2) try this:
20 #undef select
21 #include <sys/time.h>
3) fix the header yourself (remove the static storage class from select in <sys/time.h>)
4) complain loudly to your vendor...

I'm closing, since IRIX header files seem terminally broken, and we can't do much about it.
Furthermore, I'm 99% sure IRIX isn't officially supported anymore.

Apologies for not getting back to you sooner, I discovered some more pressing issues with the machine regarding gcc, I'll try and fix/hack it together as I have found some possible fixes for the headers.