WeeChat supports encrypted IRC connections using GnuTLS. For FreeBSD’s port of WeeChat, as root:
# cd /usr/ports/irc/weechat
# make
[select GnuTLS]
# make install
In WeeChat:
/set weechat.network.gnutls_ca_file "/usr/local/share/certs/ca-root-nss.crt"
/set irc.server.freenode.addresses "chat.freenode.net/7000"
/set irc.server.freenode.ssl on
/set irc.server.freenode.ssl_dhkey_size 1024
/connect freenode
NB: WeeChat’s support for GnuTLS is rather flaky, with numerous bug reports recently surfacing on the net (one such example). WeeChat’s FAQ suggests disabling verification of secure connections with:
/set irc.server.freenode.ssl_verify off