For the happy-clicky-emoji types one can put TheLounge [1] or Convos [2] or other web front-ends [3] in front of IRC. They don't scale as well but it would allow for those that don't care for the underlying IRC network.

[1] - https://thelounge.chat/

[2] - https://convos.chat/

[3] - https://ircv3.net/software/clients#web-clients