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In 1914, Ireland appeared to be on the brink of civil war. And yet paradoxically, the outbreak of the First World War significantly eased tensions between Britain and Ireland. This article will explore the Anglo-Irish détente through the prism of voluntary recruitment, and by focusing on three key moments: 1914, 1916 and 1918. We shall argue that the Irish contribution to the war effort was both voluntary and self-mobilized, and continued to be so even during “crisis” moments such as the Easter Rebellion of 1916 and the debates over Irish conscription that took place in the spring of 1918. Moreover, this analysis emphasizes the importance of British liberalism’s ability to be both pluralistic and pragmatic.