irc question

[Al Sten-Clanton]

Greetings!

I need an irc client recommendation.  (Yes, I'm way behind the times on 
this.) I know of pidgin and xchat.  Can anybody tell me which, if 
either, is easier to use with Speakup or Orca?  Is there something else 
that is better than either?  (This is for use in my internship, not that 
I finally decided to jump in.)

Thanks for any help.

Al

p.s.  I'll be especially grateful if somebody knows of a good document 
for learning to use one of these guys.