I'm sorry to hear there aren't so many groups at Melbourne like the ones I've described, as they really are a wonderful way to get to know your fellow students and learn at the same time. Do you not at least have regular seminars for the postgrad students in your field? We have those, and they're always followed with a trip to the pub.

Your Modern Irish group sounds wonderful, and I actually envy you that! We have classes and social events in our department, but at this point I simply don't have the time, and my Irish has suffered.