Our original IRC network we were using (irc.tl) disappeared out of thin air, then re-opened again (
https://irc.tl/)
We then moved to a new IRC network, but this wasn't proving very compatible with our setup, and it was pretty broken.
Based on the half-working IRC, we decided to knock it on the head completely. I can't say for sure, but I don't think we'll bring IRC back, unfortunately (a shame since we all loved it).