diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4104d8b..d4d392d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -112,17 +112,15 @@ name is an existing AgentBBS member (registration is off — your BBS account *i
 your IRC identity):
 
 ```bash
-# zero-setup: built-in client over SSH (members only)
-ssh -t irc@bbs.profullstack.com
 # native client — SASL account = your BBS member name
 /connect irc.bbs.profullstack.com 6697
 # browser / agent over WebSocket
 wss://bbs.profullstack.com/irc
 ```
 
-`ssh irc@` is a built-in IRC client (`internal/irc`) that authenticates you to
-the network automatically — no client to install. Set `IRC=0` to skip the
-server. Full details: [`docs/irc.md`](docs/irc.md).
+There is no in-BBS `ssh irc@` route; members connect with any IRC client over
+native TLS or WebSocket, using their BBS username for SASL. Set `IRC=0` to skip
+the server. Full details: [`docs/irc.md`](docs/irc.md).
 
 ### News (Usenet) server
 
diff --git a/cmd/agentbbs/main.go b/cmd/agentbbs/main.go
index c26221e..95dacc7 100644
--- a/cmd/agentbbs/main.go
+++ b/cmd/agentbbs/main.go
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ func (a *app) teaHandler(s ssh.Session) (tea.Model, []tea.ProgramOption) {
 }
 
 // sessionExec adapts a func to tea.ExecCommand so the hub can run a
-// terminal-takeover feature (pod shell, IRC, news, mail, Tor) via tea.Exec and
+// terminal-takeover feature (pod shell, news, mail, Tor) via tea.Exec and
 // return to the menu afterwards. The feature reads and writes the ssh.Session
 // directly, so the stream hooks are no-ops.
 type sessionExec struct{ run func() error }
@@ -431,9 +431,9 @@ func (e sessionExec) SetStdin(io.Reader)  {}
 func (e sessionExec) SetStdout(io.Writer) {}
 func (e sessionExec) SetStderr(io.Writer) {}
 
-// sessionApps builds the hub's terminal-takeover entries (pod, IRC, news, Tor)
+// sessionApps builds the hub's terminal-takeover entries (pod, news, mail, Tor)
 // so a member reaches everything from one `ssh <name>@host` login instead of
-// separate `ssh pod@`/`irc@`/`news@`/`tor@` connections (which still work as
+// separate `ssh pod@`/`news@`/`tor@` connections (which still work as
 // aliases, mainly for bots). Each entry is gated by membership/verification/plan
 // and shown locked with a reason when unavailable.
 func (a *app) sessionApps(s ssh.Session, su store.User, guest bool) []hub.SessionApp {
diff --git a/internal/hub/hub.go b/internal/hub/hub.go
index cbe4d73..a27edc2 100644
--- a/internal/hub/hub.go
+++ b/internal/hub/hub.go
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@
 // reclaiming it when the plugin emits ExitMsg.
 //
 // Besides in-hub plugins, the hub also lists "session apps" — features that take
-// over the whole terminal (a pod shell, the IRC client, the newsreader, the mail
-// reader, Tor) rather than rendering inside the hub. Selecting one suspends the
+// over the whole terminal (a pod shell, the newsreader, the mail reader, or
+// Tor) rather than rendering inside the hub. Selecting one suspends the
 // hub via tea.Exec, runs it, and returns to the menu. This is what lets a member
 // reach everything from a single `ssh <name>@host` login instead of separate
-// `ssh pod@` / `ssh irc@` / `ssh news@` connections.
+// `ssh pod@` / `ssh news@` connections.
 package hub
 
 import (
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ var (
 	bannerStyle = lipgloss.NewStyle().Bold(true).Foreground(lipgloss.Color("#e11d2a"))
 )
 
-// SessionApp is a hub entry that takes over the terminal — a pod shell, the IRC
-// client, the newsreader, the mail reader, or Tor — instead of running as an
+// SessionApp is a hub entry that takes over the terminal — a pod shell, the
+// newsreader, the mail reader, or Tor — instead of running as an
 // in-hub model. Selecting it suspends the hub (tea.Exec), runs Cmd, then returns
 // to the menu.
 type SessionApp struct {