Home Nations
(Redirected from Home countries)
Categories: Geography of the United Kingdom | England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland | Political geography
Home Nations is a term used to refer to the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom — England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — collectively, but as separate entities, distinct from the United Kingdom as a whole. Its usage is rare (especially outside the UK) and somewhat controversial in some quarters, though it is more common in sporting contexts.
Sometimes the term is used to include all the self-governing nations or states of the British Isles (thus including the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey), though this usage is technically incorrect. There is some debate, both popular and academic, as to whether Cornwall (which is normally considered part of England) should be considered a constituent part of the UK and therefore a Home Nation[1], with the Cornish nationalist movement often supporting this view.
The description of Northern Ireland as a 'nation' is controversial and perhaps inaccurate, as Northern Ireland has never been an independent entity — it is the part of Ireland which remained within the United Kingdom after the rest left to form the Republic of Ireland in 1922.
The term is often used when referring to sporting events in which each Home Nation competes separately, such as the now defunct British Home Championship in football. In sports where an Ireland team represents both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, it is common for all of Ireland to be referred to as a Home Nation.
Similar terms
The term parallels that of the Home Counties, which surround London. The Japanese also used to refer to their main archipelago as the Home Islands when they had a substantial empire.