diff --git a/pokerth_lib.pro b/pokerth_lib.pro
index 0c22d09b..a1b76df6 100644
--- a/pokerth_lib.pro
+++ b/pokerth_lib.pro
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ HEADERS += \
 		src/net/socket_helper.h \
 		src/net/socket_msg.h \
 		src/net/socket_startup.h \
+		src/net/irccallback.h \
+		src/net/ircthread.h \
 		src/core/tinyxml/tinystr.h \
 		src/core/tinyxml/tinyxml.h \
 		src/core/libircclient/include/libircclient.h \
@@ -154,6 +156,8 @@ SOURCES += \
 		src/net/common/netcontext.cpp \
 		src/net/common/netexception.cpp \
 		src/net/common/receiverhelper.cpp \
+		src/net/common/irccallback.cpp \
+		src/net/common/ircthread.cpp \
 		src/gui/qttoolsinterface.cpp \
 		src/gui/qt/qttools/qttoolswrapper.cpp \
 		src/gui/qt/qttools/qthelper/qthelper.cpp \
diff --git a/src/gui/generic/serverguiwrapper.cpp b/src/gui/generic/serverguiwrapper.cpp
index 235a3eaa..7198d3c7 100644
--- a/src/gui/generic/serverguiwrapper.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/generic/serverguiwrapper.cpp
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@
 using namespace std;
 
 
-ServerGuiWrapper::ServerGuiWrapper(ConfigFile *config, ClientCallback *clientcb, ServerCallback *servercb)
-: myConfig(config), myClientcb(clientcb), myServercb(servercb)
+ServerGuiWrapper::ServerGuiWrapper(ConfigFile *config, ClientCallback *clientcb, ServerCallback *servercb, IrcCallback *irccb)
+: myConfig(config), myClientcb(clientcb), myServercb(servercb), myIrccb(irccb)
 {
 }
 
@@ -125,3 +125,4 @@ void ServerGuiWrapper::SignalNetClientWaitDialog() { if (myClientcb) myClientcb-
 void ServerGuiWrapper::SignalNetServerSuccess(int actionID) { if (myServercb) myServercb->SignalNetServerSuccess(actionID); }
 void ServerGuiWrapper::SignalNetServerError(int errorID, int osErrorID) { if (myServercb) myServercb->SignalNetServerError(errorID, osErrorID); }
 
+void ServerGuiWrapper::SignalIrcChatMsg(const string &nickName, const string &msg) { if (myIrccb) myIrccb->SignalIrcChatMsg(nickName, msg); }
diff --git a/src/gui/generic/serverguiwrapper.h b/src/gui/generic/serverguiwrapper.h
index 481a88c0..0bbd2af9 100644
--- a/src/gui/generic/serverguiwrapper.h
+++ b/src/gui/generic/serverguiwrapper.h
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ class Session;
 class ServerGuiWrapper : public GuiInterface
 {
 public:
-	ServerGuiWrapper(ConfigFile *config, ClientCallback *clientcb, ServerCallback *servercb);
+	ServerGuiWrapper(ConfigFile *config, ClientCallback *clientcb, ServerCallback *servercb, IrcCallback *irccb);
 	~ServerGuiWrapper();
 
 	void initGui(int speed);
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ public:
 	void SignalNetServerSuccess(int actionID);
 	void SignalNetServerError(int errorID, int osErrorID);
 
+	void SignalIrcChatMsg(const std::string &nickName, const std::string &msg);
+
 private:
 
 	boost::shared_ptr<Session> mySession;
@@ -117,6 +119,7 @@ private:
 
 	ClientCallback *myClientcb;
 	ServerCallback *myServercb;
+	IrcCallback *myIrccb;
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/gui/guiinterface.h b/src/gui/guiinterface.h
index 780f1327..a0194e6d 100644
--- a/src/gui/guiinterface.h
+++ b/src/gui/guiinterface.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 #include <net/clientcallback.h>
 #include <net/servercallback.h>
+#include <net/irccallback.h>
 #include <game_defs.h>
 #include <string>
 #include <boost/shared_ptr.hpp>
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@
 class Session;
 
 
-class GuiInterface : public ClientCallback, public ServerCallback {
+class GuiInterface : public ClientCallback, public ServerCallback, public IrcCallback {
 public:
 	virtual ~GuiInterface();
 
diff --git a/src/gui/qt/gamelobbydialog/gamelobbydialogimpl.cpp b/src/gui/qt/gamelobbydialog/gamelobbydialogimpl.cpp
index f047398a..5fa26d6e 100644
--- a/src/gui/qt/gamelobbydialog/gamelobbydialogimpl.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/qt/gamelobbydialog/gamelobbydialogimpl.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,11 @@ gameLobbyDialogImpl::gameLobbyDialogImpl(QWidget *parent, ConfigFile *c)
 
 void gameLobbyDialogImpl::exec()
 {
+	assert(mySession);
+	mySession->terminateIrcClient();
+	mySession->startIrcClient();
 	QDialog::exec();
+	mySession->terminateIrcClient();
 	clearDialog();
 }
 
@@ -384,9 +388,10 @@ void gameLobbyDialogImpl::kickPlayer() {
 }
 
 void gameLobbyDialogImpl::sendChatMessage() { myChat->sendMessage(); }
+void gameLobbyDialogImpl::displayChatMessage(QString nickName, QString msg) { myChat->receiveMessage(nickName, msg); }
 void gameLobbyDialogImpl::checkChatInputLength(QString string) { myChat->checkInputLength(string); }
 
 void gameLobbyDialogImpl::keyPressEvent ( QKeyEvent * event ) {
 
-	if (event->key() == Qt::Key_Enter) {}
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+	if (event->key() == Qt::Key_Enter) { sendChatMessage(); }
+}
diff --git a/src/gui/qt/gamelobbydialog/gamelobbydialogimpl.h b/src/gui/qt/gamelobbydialog/gamelobbydialogimpl.h
index 0f485a1c..88499ea7 100644
--- a/src/gui/qt/gamelobbydialog/gamelobbydialogimpl.h
+++ b/src/gui/qt/gamelobbydialog/gamelobbydialogimpl.h
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ public slots:
 	void clearDialog();
 
 	void sendChatMessage();
+	void displayChatMessage(QString nickName, QString msg);
 	void checkChatInputLength(QString string);
 	
 	void keyPressEvent(QKeyEvent * event); 
diff --git a/src/gui/qt/gamelobbydialog/lobbychat/lobbychat.cpp b/src/gui/qt/gamelobbydialog/lobbychat/lobbychat.cpp
index b53ddb94..b983e0b3 100644
--- a/src/gui/qt/gamelobbydialog/lobbychat/lobbychat.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/qt/gamelobbydialog/lobbychat/lobbychat.cpp
@@ -38,8 +38,12 @@ LobbyChat::~LobbyChat()
 
 void LobbyChat::sendMessage() {
 
-	myLobby->getSession().sendChatMessage(myLobby->lineEdit_ChatInput->text().toUtf8().constData());
+	QString tmpMsg(myLobby->lineEdit_ChatInput->text());
+	myLobby->getSession().sendIrcChatMessage(tmpMsg.toUtf8().constData());
 	myLobby->lineEdit_ChatInput->setText("");
+
+	// TODO: just temporary instead of callback
+	receiveMessage("(me)", tmpMsg);
 }
 
 void LobbyChat::receiveMessage(QString playerName, QString message) { 
diff --git a/src/gui/qt/guiwrapper.cpp b/src/gui/qt/guiwrapper.cpp
index 496c6fd8..fece9d58 100644
--- a/src/gui/qt/guiwrapper.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/qt/guiwrapper.cpp
@@ -139,3 +139,5 @@ void GuiWrapper::SignalNetClientWaitDialog() { myW->signalShowNetworkStartDialog
 void GuiWrapper::SignalNetServerSuccess(int actionID) { }
 void GuiWrapper::SignalNetServerError(int errorID, int osErrorID) { myW->signalNetServerError(errorID, osErrorID); }
 
+void GuiWrapper::SignalIrcChatMsg(const std::string &nickName, const std::string &msg) { myW->signalIrcChatMessage(QString::fromUtf8(nickName.c_str()), QString::fromUtf8(msg.c_str())); }
+
diff --git a/src/gui/qt/guiwrapper.h b/src/gui/qt/guiwrapper.h
index f7c6e38e..241edd2b 100644
--- a/src/gui/qt/guiwrapper.h
+++ b/src/gui/qt/guiwrapper.h
@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@ public:
 	void SignalNetServerSuccess(int actionID);
 	void SignalNetServerError(int errorID, int osErrorID);
 
+	void SignalIrcChatMsg(const std::string &nickName, const std::string &msg);
+
 private:
 
 	Log *myLog;
diff --git a/src/gui/qt/mainwindow/mainwindowimpl.cpp b/src/gui/qt/mainwindow/mainwindowimpl.cpp
index 1c09ab1e..3edfadc4 100755
--- a/src/gui/qt/mainwindow/mainwindowimpl.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/qt/mainwindow/mainwindowimpl.cpp
@@ -676,6 +676,8 @@ mainWindowImpl::mainWindowImpl(ConfigFile *c, QMainWindow *parent)
 	connect(this, SIGNAL(signalNetServerError(int, int)), this, SLOT(networkError(int, int)));
 	connect(this, SIGNAL(signalNetClientGameStart(boost::shared_ptr<Game>)), this, SLOT(networkStart(boost::shared_ptr<Game>)));
 
+	connect(this, SIGNAL(signalIrcChatMessage(QString, QString)), myGameLobbyDialog, SLOT(displayChatMessage(QString, QString)));
+
 	//Sound
 	mySDLPlayer = new SDLPlayer(myConfig);
 
@@ -758,7 +760,7 @@ void mainWindowImpl::callCreateNetworkGameDialog() {
 		if (!myServerGuiInterface.get())
 		{
 			// Create pseudo Gui Wrapper for the server.
-			myServerGuiInterface.reset(new ServerGuiWrapper(myConfig, mySession->getGui(), mySession->getGui()));
+			myServerGuiInterface.reset(new ServerGuiWrapper(myConfig, mySession->getGui(), mySession->getGui(), mySession->getGui()));
 			{
 				boost::shared_ptr<Session> session(new Session(myServerGuiInterface.get(), myConfig));
 				myServerGuiInterface->setSession(session);
diff --git a/src/gui/qt/mainwindow/mainwindowimpl.h b/src/gui/qt/mainwindow/mainwindowimpl.h
index f6309056..b77a8095 100755
--- a/src/gui/qt/mainwindow/mainwindowimpl.h
+++ b/src/gui/qt/mainwindow/mainwindowimpl.h
@@ -138,6 +138,8 @@ signals:
 	void signalNetClientGameListPlayerLeft(unsigned gameId, unsigned playerId);
 	void signalNetClientGameStart(boost::shared_ptr<Game> game);
 
+	void signalIrcChatMessage(QString nickName, QString msg);
+
 public slots:
 
 	void initGui(int speed);
diff --git a/src/net/common/ircthread.cpp b/src/net/common/ircthread.cpp
index 780fa1a2..f6e37009 100644
--- a/src/net/common/ircthread.cpp
+++ b/src/net/common/ircthread.cpp
@@ -34,11 +34,25 @@ struct IrcContext
 	string channel;
 };
 
-void event_connect(irc_session_t *session, const char *event, const char *origin, const char **params, unsigned count)
+void
+irc_connect(irc_session_t *session, const char *event, const char *origin, const char **params, unsigned count)
 {
-	IrcContext *ctx = (IrcContext *) irc_get_ctx(session);
+	IrcContext *context = (IrcContext *) irc_get_ctx(session);
 
-	irc_cmd_join(session, ctx->channel.c_str(), 0);
+	irc_cmd_join(session, context->channel.c_str(), 0);
+}
+
+void
+irc_channel(irc_session_t *session, const char *event, const char *origin, const char **params, unsigned count)
+{
+	IrcContext *context = (IrcContext *) irc_get_ctx(session);
+
+	if (context->channel == params[0]) // check whether this message is for our channel
+	{
+		// Signal the message (if any) to GUI.
+		if (params[1] && *params[1] != 0)
+			context->ircThread.GetCallback().SignalIrcChatMsg(origin, params[1]);
+	}
 }
 
 
@@ -69,7 +83,7 @@ IrcThread::Init(const std::string &serverAddress, unsigned serverPort, bool ipv6
 	irc_callbacks_t callbacks;
 	memset (&callbacks, 0, sizeof(callbacks));
 
-	callbacks.event_connect = event_connect;
+	callbacks.event_connect = irc_connect;
 	//callbacks.event_join
 	//callbacks.event_nick
 	//callbacks.event_quit
@@ -77,7 +91,7 @@ IrcThread::Init(const std::string &serverAddress, unsigned serverPort, bool ipv6
 	//callbacks.event_mode
 	//callbacks.event_topic
 	//callbacks.event_kick
-	//callbacks.event_channel
+	callbacks.event_channel = irc_channel;
 	//callbacks.event_privmsg
 	//callbacks.event_notice
 	//callbacks.event_invite
@@ -100,6 +114,13 @@ IrcThread::Init(const std::string &serverAddress, unsigned serverPort, bool ipv6
 	}
 }
 
+void
+IrcThread::SendChatMessage(const std::string &msg)
+{
+	IrcContext &context = GetContext();
+	irc_cmd_msg(context.session, context.channel.c_str(), msg.c_str());
+}
+
 void
 IrcThread::SignalTermination()
 {
diff --git a/src/net/irccallback.h b/src/net/irccallback.h
index 62c25c2b..f9dccb0e 100644
--- a/src/net/irccallback.h
+++ b/src/net/irccallback.h
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class IrcCallback
 public:
 	virtual ~IrcCallback();
 
-	virtual void SignalIrcPlayerJoined(const std::string &nickName) = 0;
+	virtual void SignalIrcChatMsg(const std::string &nickName, const std::string &msg) = 0;
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/net/ircthread.h b/src/net/ircthread.h
index 2e85e2e9..89d99810 100644
--- a/src/net/ircthread.h
+++ b/src/net/ircthread.h
@@ -36,8 +36,13 @@ public:
 	// Set the parameters.
 	void Init(const std::string &serverAddress, unsigned serverPort, bool ipv6, const std::string &nick, const std::string &channel);
 
+	// Send a chat message to the channel.
+	void SendChatMessage(const std::string &msg);
+
 	virtual void SignalTermination();
 
+	IrcCallback &GetCallback();
+
 protected:
 
 	// Main function of the thread.
@@ -46,8 +51,6 @@ protected:
 	const IrcContext &GetContext() const;
 	IrcContext &GetContext();
 
-	IrcCallback &GetCallback();
-
 private:
 	std::auto_ptr<IrcContext> m_context;
 	IrcCallback &m_callback;
diff --git a/src/pokerth_server.cpp b/src/pokerth_server.cpp
index 93b5dcb6..2c0e4111 100644
--- a/src/pokerth_server.cpp
+++ b/src/pokerth_server.cpp
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	socket_startup();
 
 	// Create pseudo Gui Wrapper for the server.
-	boost::shared_ptr<GuiInterface> myServerGuiInterface(new ServerGuiWrapper(myConfig, NULL, NULL));
+	boost::shared_ptr<GuiInterface> myServerGuiInterface(new ServerGuiWrapper(myConfig, NULL, NULL, NULL));
 	{
 		boost::shared_ptr<Session> session(new Session(myServerGuiInterface.get(), myConfig));
 		session->init(); // TODO handle error
diff --git a/src/session.cpp b/src/session.cpp
index 1f755bff..c52e17b7 100755
--- a/src/session.cpp
+++ b/src/session.cpp
@@ -25,19 +25,21 @@
 #include <clientenginefactory.h>
 #include <net/clientthread.h>
 #include <net/serveracceptthread.h>
+#include <net/ircthread.h>
 #include <core/avatarmanager.h>
 
 #include <sstream>
 
 #define NET_CLIENT_TERMINATE_TIMEOUT_MSEC	1000
-#define NET_SERVER_TERMINATE_TIMEOUT_MSEC	1000
+#define NET_SERVER_TERMINATE_TIMEOUT_MSEC	2000
+#define NET_IRC_TERMINATE_TIMEOUT_MSEC		2000
 
 #define NET_DEFAULT_GAME					"default"
 
 using namespace std;
 
 Session::Session(GuiInterface *g, ConfigFile *c)
-: currentGameID(0), myNetClient(0), myNetServer(0), myGui(g), myConfig(c)
+: currentGameID(0), myNetClient(NULL), myNetServer(NULL), myIrcThread(NULL), myGui(g), myConfig(c)
 {
 	myAvatarManager.reset(new AvatarManager);
 }
@@ -47,6 +49,7 @@ Session::~Session()
 {
 	terminateNetworkClient();
 	terminateNetworkServer();
+	terminateIrcClient();
 	delete myConfig;
 	myConfig = 0;
 }
@@ -242,6 +245,44 @@ void Session::waitForNetworkServer(unsigned timeoutMsec)
 	}
 }
 
+void Session::startIrcClient()
+{
+	if (myIrcThread || !myGui)
+	{
+		assert(false);
+		return;
+	}
+	myIrcThread = new IrcThread(*myGui);
+	myIrcThread->Init(
+		myConfig->readConfigString("IRCServerAddress"),
+		myConfig->readConfigInt("IRCServerPort"),
+		myConfig->readConfigInt("IRCServerUseIpv6") == 1,
+		myConfig->readConfigString("MyName"),
+		myConfig->readConfigString("IRCChannel"));
+	myIrcThread->Run();
+}
+
+void Session::sendIrcChatMessage(const std::string &message)
+{
+	if (!myIrcThread)
+		return;
+	myIrcThread->SendChatMessage(message);
+}
+
+void Session::terminateIrcClient()
+{
+	if (!myIrcThread)
+		return; // already terminated
+	myIrcThread->SignalTermination();
+	// Give the thread some time to terminate.
+	if (myIrcThread->Join(NET_IRC_TERMINATE_TIMEOUT_MSEC))
+		delete myIrcThread;
+	else
+		assert(false);
+	// If termination fails, leave a memory leak to prevent a crash.
+	myIrcThread = 0;
+}
+
 void Session::sendLeaveCurrentGame()
 {
 	if (!myNetClient)
diff --git a/src/session.h b/src/session.h
index 3bc9e60f..2c1d4f91 100755
--- a/src/session.h
+++ b/src/session.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ class Game;
 class ConfigFile;
 class ClientThread;
 class ServerAcceptThread;
+class IrcThread;
 class AvatarManager;
 
 class Session{
@@ -61,6 +62,10 @@ public:
 	void terminateNetworkServer();
 	void waitForNetworkServer(unsigned timeoutMsec);
 
+	void startIrcClient();
+	void sendIrcChatMessage(const std::string &message);
+	void terminateIrcClient();
+
 	void sendClientPlayerAction();
 
 	void setCurrentGameID(int theValue) { currentGameID = theValue; }
@@ -81,6 +86,7 @@ private:
 
 	ClientThread *myNetClient;
 	ServerAcceptThread *myNetServer;
+	IrcThread *myIrcThread;
 	boost::shared_ptr<AvatarManager> myAvatarManager;
 
 	boost::shared_ptr<Game> currentGame;