IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat, and is a popular way of communicating online. IRC basically involves real-time, text-based chat, either in public forums called channels, or in private one-on-one chats. It's a great way to meet new people, or chat to friends online. For more information on what IRC is and how it works, take a look at the IRC FAQ.

If you want to start using IRC, you will need an IRC client. If you are using Windows, the most popular one is mIRC. We recommend that you use mIRC as it is simple to use and very full-featured. You can download it from here. If you do not like mIRC, or want to try another client, several are available from TUCOWS here.

Most clients come with a built-in server list, and you can connect to any server you like! You might find that a server is down or no longer available when you try to connect - if this is the case, just try another one.

Please note that abusing or harassing other people over IRC is a breach of the Terms & Conditions of your account, and may result in your account being suspended. Please, do the right thing and make the Internet an enjoyable place for EVERYONE.