If it doesn't work and you have java, then you don't have a new enough version of java, or your version is broken. Either case, download the
J2SE 5.0 JRE and install/upgrade
This is just the stuff i put in for the server i wanted to connect to, not a preselected one. A window comes up for me to type but it says "your not on a channel" then "unable to connect to server(connection timed out)"
Try typing "/server irc.ffchat.net:6669 -j #eoff" in the status window, without the quotes, keeping the important / at the front, and see if it's any different. Also, what's your internet connection? Normal home connection, with/without a router, or at a college, or something else?
EDIT: The server is down at the moment, you might want to try later