Its been AGES since I've been on iIRC anywhere! Can't remember if I ever logged into the Barrow Downs chat. I think I gave up when I would go on different chats and see a few folk logged in but nobody was chatting, or if there were a couple people chatting they didn't bother to acknowledge anyone else who came in and anything said was ignored.
I hope your efforts to revive the old-school here pays off Bęthberry!