When did England rule Ireland completely?

England's rule over Ireland began in the 12th century with the Norman invasion, and lasted for over 800 years. Throughout this period, Ireland was a colony of England and was ruled directly by the English monarchy. In 1801, the Kingdom of Ireland was merged with the Kingdom of Great Britain to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This merger was the culmination of a long process of political, economic and cultural integration between the two countries. The Act of Union of 1800, which brought about the merger, was passed by the parliaments of both countries. The United Kingdom existed until 1922, when the Irish Free State was established.