mIRC has been shareware since ages. Just use something else if you don't want to support the developers. If you're running Windows I can't really recommend anything that isn't shareware/trial, but if you're on linux/osx, check out irssi.
Hey - turns out IRC is out and something a little more modern has taken it's place... A little thing called Discord!
Join our community @ https://discord.gg/JuaSzXBZrk for a pick-up game, or just to rekindle with fellow community members.
Lol i cant believe this is still going ... just thought i would drop by and take a look.. Dunno if any one still around that would remember me but i miss the old ut days. Could do with a time machine