IRC Workflow 
STEP 0)  grab endsh.sh

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/endwall2/endtools/master/endsh.sh

requires torsocks and firejail

STEP 1) Install IRSSI

$ su
# torsocks -i pacman -S irssi
# exit

STEP 2) Modify config file
$ cd ~
$ cd .irssi
$ nano config

scroll to the bottom find the settings section,

settings = {
  core = {
    real_name = "LSnIudlVU3PkBGRuT9VXSOW2WFJ8";
    user_name = "XPDNanEmI6yIFnJf7XStT5wr1SKG";
    nick = "Endwall";
    hostname = "7N3lxpzNCuNgRAslLgsTCBVkPopY";
  };
  "fe-text" = { actlist_sort = "refnum"; };
};

find the settings section and put in random characters, use passgen, change your nick here manually.

$ passgen --bytes 21

STEP 3) Connect

// get a torsocks shell and enter irssi
$ endsh   
$ irssi
[(status)] /connect endchan.net 6667 
[(status)] /join #ENDCHAN
[#ENDCHAN] /window left
[(status)] /help
[(status)] /window right
[#ENDCHAN] /part
[(status)] /disconnect
[(status)] /quit
$ exit
$ exit

for a site with SSL connect with the command 

[(status)] /connect -tls irc.cyberguerrilla.org 6697

[(status)] /connect -tls irc.blackhats.ru 6697
[(status)] /join #SECURITY

[#SECURITY] /part
[(status)] /disconnect
[(status)] /quit
$ exit
$ exit

Note: this method doesn't seem to work with .onion addresses, as it attempts to operate on local host and is denied by torsocks.
I seem to remember being able to access onion irc servers but I used a different program (I can't recall which client). Feel free to add or fill in the blanks.