Kinalea is bordered by Kerrycurrihy on the north, and it borders Cork Harbour on the east.

From JCHAS:

Anciently called Insovenagh, formed portion of the territory of the MacCarthys. In 1208 it was granted to Robert Fitzmartin, but in later times it passed to Barry Oge (Young Barry) of the Barrys. Dr. Joyce derives the name from Cinel Aedha (Kinel-Ay), the descendants of Aedh, or Hugh, father of Failbha-Flann, king of Munster 636. At Tracton, in this barony, was an abbey of Cistercians founded by the MacCarthys, 1224. The monks, who came from Alba Lauda in Wales, called the abbey de Alba Tractu. They were possessed of a supposed piece of the true cross, presented by Barry Oge. In 1380 a regulation was made that no "mere Irish" were to be professed in this house.

The 1659 census did not enumerate by household. However, surname frequencies were noted. Below is a list of the surnames found in Kinalea, in descending order of frequency.