i've been running an irc network (several, small >10 and bigger >2,500 users) myself for 5 years now, you'd be more than welcome there.. and it'd be alot more "free" i.e. testing etc. than freenode. i have also been running the bots for another network which is java based with ircd and a very good services agent.. it runs akiva chatspace software (don't fear the win) http://69.65.113.52:8000 (/server 69.65.113.52 6667) - that is, if interface matters for the java the applet on there. java applet can be totally resized and embedded in any webpage cgi-irc can also be used in addition to a html based client (not so good, and slower refresh as you'd imagine)